- विज्ञापन -
Muan: On January 2, 2025, South Korean police launched a raid at Muan International Airport, the headquarters of Jeju Air, and other relevant locations in connection with a deadly plane crash involving the airline. The investigation focuses on the crash, which claimed 179 lives, marking it as the worst aviation disaster in South Korea’s history.
The raid was led by the Jeonnam Provincial Police, who executed search and seizure operations at the airport, Jeju Air’s Seoul office, and the Muan office of the Busan Regional Office of Aviation. The police were investigating charges of professional negligence resulting in death. They are collecting evidence related to the airport’s localiser, a concrete structure housing an antenna near the runway, and communication records between the control tower and the aircraft before the crash.
The crash occurred on Sunday when a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok attempted an emergency landing at Muan International Airport without its landing gear deployed. The aircraft skidded along the runway, hitting a concrete wall and catching fire in a massive explosion. Of the 181 people on board, 179 were killed, making it South Korea’s deadliest aviation accident.
Reports suggest the airport’s control tower had warned of a potential bird strike shortly before the pilot declared an emergency and landed the plane. Investigators are examining whether there were issues during the emergency landing process, including actions taken by the control tower.
By Wednesday, the identities of all 179 victims had been confirmed, and DNA analysis was being used to identify the remains. As of Thursday morning, 24 bodies had been handed over to families, with funeral services for 10 victims already in progress. Authorities are also returning personal belongings collected from the crash site to the families.
In a related update, the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board of the Land Ministry stated that it had successfully converted the data from the cockpit voice recorder into an audio file. Due to damage sustained during the crash, the flight data recorder will be sent to the United States for further analysis.
