Official announcement from the South Korean Transport Ministry or relevant aviation regulatory body

South Korea Inspects Boeing 737-800 Fleet After Crash Kills 179 at Muan Airport

Dec 30, 2024, 11:16 AM

South Korea has initiated a comprehensive safety inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by its airlines following a deadly crash involving a Jeju Air plane at Muan International Airport that killed 179 out of 181 passengers. The incident occurred after a failed landing attempt. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an emergency review of the country's entire airline operation system in response to the disaster, which is the worst aviation tragedy in South Korea in decades. The Transport Ministry, led by senior official Joo Jong-wan, is set to examine the aircraft, with a particular focus on Jeju Air, which operates 39 of these planes. The investigation into the crash, which involved a possible bird strike and subsequent landing gear failure, is being supported by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing. The government has declared a seven-day national mourning period and is working to identify the victims, with 146 bodies already identified and DNA and fingerprint samples being collected from the remaining 33.