Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an investigation into the nation’s aviation system following the crash at Muan airport yesterday, which resulted in the deaths of 179 passengers on board. The investigation will commence once all victims are identified, as stated by Choi.
The Ministry of Transport has been tasked with conducting the investigation in an effort to prevent future incidents. The ministry is also considering inspecting all 101 Boeing 737 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines.
The Jeju Air Boeing 737 was en route from Bangkok to Muan when its landing gear failed to deploy during landing. The aircraft skidded off the runway, collided with a barrier and a wall, and subsequently caught fire.
Only two crew members seated at the rear survived the crash. It remains unclear how the crash occurred.
The ministry reports that pilots had informed air traffic control of a bird strike shortly after being warned of the presence of birds. After the warning, pilots issued a distress signal and proceeded with the landing.
Experts are investigating whether the bird strike contributed to the crash and why the landing gear failed to deploy. Rescue workers have recovered the black boxes, which store flight data and cockpit voice recordings.
The flight data box is reportedly damaged externally, and it is uncertain if this will affect data retrieval. Jeju Air’s stock has plummeted nearly 16 percent due to the crash, hitting an all-time low.
Muan airport will remain closed through Wednesday.
Source: NOS