South Korea on Monday initiated a “comprehensive inspection” of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by its airlines after a Jeju Air flight crash-landed at Muan International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 179 people.
U.S. safety officials and Boeing representatives are joining the investigation into the incident, initially attributed to a bird strike.
The Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers from Thailand to South Korea, crash-landed at Muan International Airport after issuing a mayday call.
The aircraft belly-landed and collided with a barrier, resulting in a fire that claimed the lives of 179 individuals on board, with only two flight attendants surviving the incident.
In response to the tragedy, South Korea has declared seven days of mourning, lowering flags to half-mast and sending the acting president to the crash site for a memorial service.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok emphasized the government’s commitment to identifying victims and supporting families while ensuring a thorough investigation and urgent safety review of the aviation sector to prevent future tragedies.
