A devastating plane crash occurred at Muan International Airport in South Korea, resulting in the country’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades. Jeju Air flight 7C-2216, a Boeing 737-800, crashed on Sunday morning just after an air control tower issued a bird strike warning to the pilot. The incident killed 179 people, with only two survivors, both of whom are flight attendants.
The plane had returned from Thailand and was heading towards its scheduled destination in South Korea when it lost control minutes before crashing onto a concrete barrier near the runway. Aviation experts have expressed doubts about the role bird strikes played in the crash, as the pilots reportedly indicated they would circle around the runway due to the warning.
South Korean authorities, along with U.S. investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, are conducting an investigation into the cause of the disaster. The two “black boxes” from the plane have been recovered but may take months to decode. Experts have questioned why the plane was going so fast, and whether any control systems were disabled.
Jeju Air’s chief executive has stated that the company’s safety procedures were followed, and compensation will be provided to the victims’ families. Shares of Jeju Air plummeted by over 15% on Monday, while shares of other airlines in South Korea also dropped. World leaders have condemned the incident, with President Joe Biden expressing his “deeply saddened” sentiments.
The crash has led to an emergency safety inspection of South Korea’s entire airplane operation, including checks on Boeing 737-800s. The country is currently observing a seven-day mourning period for the victims.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/12/31/what-we-know-about-jeju-air-crash-179-dead-in-south-korea-as-investigators-probe-cause