Jerry Jackson The tragic plane crash in Muan, South Korea, left 179 people dead. Authorities continue to uncover key details about the incident.
Identification of Victims Progresses
South Korean officials confirmed the identities of 174 out of the 179 victims in the crash. According to the Ministry of Transport, some remains have already been returned to families for burial. Two crew members miraculously survived the tragedy.
The runway at Muan Airport will remain closed until January 7 to allow for ongoing investigations. Experts from Boeing and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have joined South Korean investigators at the scene.
Wall Behind Runway Under Scrutiny
The aircraft crashed into a concrete wall located 250 meters beyond the runway. This wall is now a central focus of the investigation, as experts believe it may have contributed to the high death toll.
The wall housed an antenna system that guides pilots during landings. Typically, these antennas are mounted on flexible structures resembling red poles. In this case, the system was encased in a four-meter-high concrete wall, raising questions among aviation experts.
Song Byeong Heum, a South Korean aviation analyst, noted that antennas should bend on impact, much like a straw. A pilot interviewed by Yonhap News also criticized the design, stating it did not align with international standards. The airport defended the wall, claiming it was necessary for proper system operation. Officials from the Ministry of Transport added that similar structures exist at other South Korean airports.
Investigators Examine Bird Strike and Flight Recorders
Recovery teams have located both flight recorders from the crashed Boeing 737-800. The cockpit voice recorder remains intact, while the flight data recorder suffered damage. Experts are working to retrieve and analyze the data, a process that could take time.
On the day of the crash, the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok landed in Muan without deploying its landing gear. The plane skidded off the runway, hit the wall, and burst into flames. Among the passengers were mostly South Koreans, along with two Thai nationals. Only two crew members survived the fiery crash.
Investigators suspect a bird strike occurred shortly before the accident. Air traffic controllers had warned the pilots of potential bird activity near the airport. Shortly after, the pilots issued a Mayday call reporting a bird strike. However, it remains unclear how this could have disabled the landing gear.
In response, the South Korean government has launched a review of maintenance records for all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines. The inspection covers six airlines and military aircraft of similar models.