South Korea Plane Crash: Two days have passed since the tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216, a flight from Thailand to South Korea, which claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew. The plane, while attempting an emergency belly landing at Muan International Airport, crashed into a concrete barrier and erupted into a massive fireball on the runway. On Tuesday evening, airport authorities set up an altar, and on Wednesday, buses transported relatives of the victims to the crash site to pay their respects. The mourners stood just meters from the wreckage, where the plane’s tail, the only part of the aircraft still relatively intact, remained scorched and broken.
South Korea‘s Muan airport became filled with grieving individuals waiting to honour the victims at the altar, creating a line that stretched for several hundred meters. In response, local officials issued a notification urging people to visit a larger memorial located about 9 kilometers (5 miles) away at a sports complex. It is expected to take several more days for all families to receive the remains of their loved ones.
In response to the devastating loss, the government has declared a national mourning period lasting until January 4, with plans to scale back the country’s New Year celebrations out of respect for the victims. However, the investigation into the incident has gained momentum.
South Korea Jeju Air Flight 2216 Crash: Authorities to begin visual examination of wreckage
The investigation into the tragic crash of a South Korean passenger jet gained momentum on Wednesday, as grieving families began funeral preparations following the official identification of the 179 victims in the country’s deadliest air disaster. The transport ministry confirmed that South Korean investigators have successfully retrieved data from the plane’s cockpit voice recorder, which will be converted into an audio file. This vital evidence aims to shed light on the crucial moments leading up to the crash. The investigation team is also working to recover data from the flight data recorder, though it was discovered to be missing a crucial connector, according to the ministry.
Two more US officials arrived late on Tuesday to join a team of about 24 investigators, including representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing. Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan stated that investigators would begin a visual examination of the wreckage.
Officials revealed that the investigation would focus on several factors, including whether a bird strike, a malfunction in the landing gear, or issues with other control systems contributed to the crash. They will also look into the pilot’s rushed attempt to land immediately after declaring an emergency. Additionally, questions have been raised about whether the airport embankment, intended to support navigation equipment, was positioned too close to the runway’s end. South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok called for a thorough and impartial investigation, adding that funeral preparations are underway after all victims were officially identified.
(With Reuters Inputs)
