South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an urgent safety inspection of the entire aviation system in South Korea once the aftermath of the Jeju Air plane crash is concluded. The tragic incident, which occurred on Sunday, was the deadliest in the country’s history, resulting in the loss of 179 lives when a plane landed at Muan International Airport, skidded off the runway, crashed into a wall, and exploded.
Choi Sang-mok emphasized the importance of identifying the victims, providing support to their families, and treating the two survivors during a disaster management meeting in Seoul. He urged full transparency in the accident investigation process and timely communication with the families of the deceased before the final results are determined.
“When the aftermath of the accident is completed, the Ministry of Transport will be required to conduct an emergency safety inspection of the entire aircraft operation system to prevent such incidents from happening again,” Choi Sang-mok stated.
The ill-fated Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 had taken off from Bangkok, Thailand, with 175 passengers and 6 crew members on board. The crash occurred just after 9 a.m. local time on Sunday at Muan International Airport in southern Korea, shortly after midnight Greenwich Mean Time.
Two crew members survived the crash and are currently receiving medical treatment. Authorities are investigating bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors leading to the crash. Experts have raised questions, including why the landing speed of the aircraft was so fast and why the landing gear was not deployed when the plane slid off the runway and hit a wall.