Deadly South Korean plane crash sparks investigation and safety checks

A team of US investigators, including representatives from Boeing, have begun inspecting the site of Sunday’s plane crash in South Korea that claimed 179 lives.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air, and South Korean authorities have launched comprehensive safety inspections on all 101 planes of the same model in the country.

The investigative delegation included one member from the US Federal Aviation Administration, three from the US National Transportation Safety Board, and four from Boeing.

Their findings are pending, as the inspection of maintenance and operational records continues through Friday.

The tragedy saw the aircraft, carrying 181 passengers and crew, crash-land at Muan International Airport. Video footage showed the plane touching down on its belly without deploying its landing gear, overshooting the runway, colliding with a concrete fence, and bursting into flames. Only two people aboard survived.

Initial reports suggest the pilots issued a distress signal after receiving a bird strike warning from ground control.

However, some aviation experts believe control systems malfunction may have been the primary cause.

John Hansman, an aviation expert from MIT, explained that there are signs that the plane’s landing gear and wing flaps failed to deploy, which “might indicate a control issue which would explain the rush to get on the ground”.

The Boeing 737-800, an earlier model than the troubled 737 Max, has a strong safety record. Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering professor at the University of Southern California, noted that multiple system failures — such as those affecting the aircraft’s location broadcasting, landing gear, and wing flaps — point to broader problems with electrical and hydraulic systems.

Meshkati also questioned the placement of a solid concrete wall just beyond the runway, describing it as “very bad luck for this particular airplane”.

South Korean officials have pledged to investigate whether the wall, part of the airport’s localiser system, should have been constructed with lighter materials to reduce the impact during accidents.

Jeju Air’s president Kim E-bae has announced measures to enhance safety, including hiring more maintenance staff and reducing flight operations by 10-15% until March.

The disaster is the deadliest aviation accident in South Korea in decades. The government has declared a seven-day national mourning period until 4 January.

Authorities have identified 175 of the victims and are conducting DNA tests on the remaining five. Bereaved families have expressed frustration over delays in providing freezers for preserving the bodies.

Park Han-shin, a family representative, criticised the government on Tuesday, saying, “The last dignities of the victims are seriously hurt. We strongly criticise authorities for failing to keep its promise.”

Additional sources • AP