South Korea has initiated an emergency safety inspection of all domestic airline operations and Boeing 737-800 aircraft after a tragic Jeju Air crash claimed 179 lives on Sunday.
The government, alongside investigators from the US, are auditing 101 aircraft across the country.
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President Choi Sang-mok, just days into his presidency, highlighted the need to overhaul aviation safety systems,
The crash occurred during a “belly landing,” with initial investigations focusing on a possible landing gear malfunction, bird strike, or weather conditions.
Meanwhile, another Jeju Air flight returned to Seoul due to landing gear issues on Monday.
Families of victims are demanding faster identification and repatriation of loved ones.
The accident has caused widespread public concern, with Jeju Air facing mass booking cancellations.
The airline’s CEO, Kim E-bae, issued a public apology, taking “full responsibility” for the crash.
Authorities have retrieved flight data and cockpit voice recorders, but damage to the devices may postpone findings.
Joo Jong-wan, head of aviation policy at the Transport Ministry, said: “Authorities are examining technical methods to extract the data despite the absence of the connector.”
Transport ministry officials plan to enhance runway safety measures to prevent future incidents.
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