Official statement or report from South Korean aviation authorities

Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 Crash in South Korea Kills 179, Raises Wall Concerns

Dec 31, 2024, 11:37 AM

A Jeju Air plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea has sparked scrutiny over a concrete wall positioned at the end of the runway. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 people, belly-landed without deploying its landing gear and crashed into the wall, resulting in 179 fatalities, with 175 passengers and 4 crew members killed, and only 2 survivors. Aviation experts have criticized the placement and construction of the wall, which housed a localizer, a navigational system meant to aid aircraft landings. The South Korean government is reviewing whether the concrete wall complied with aviation regulations, while U.S. investigators and Boeing representatives have joined the probe into the disaster. Preliminary examinations suggest a bird strike warning and a possible issue with the hydraulic system. The crash has prompted safety inspections of all 101 Boeing 737-800s operated by South Korean airlines, set to conclude by January 3. The incident is the deadliest in South Korea's aviation history in decades, leading to a seven-day national mourning period until January 4. Authorities are conducting DNA tests to identify the remaining five bodies.