Brief Summary
A Jeju Air plane crash at South Korea's Muan International Airport on Sunday resulted in the deaths of 179 people, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in the country's history. The crash has left families grieving and frustrated with the lack of timely updates from Jeju Air and government officials. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with a bird strike being considered as a possible contributing factor. South Korea has launched a comprehensive inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country's carriers.
- 179 people were killed in the crash, including 175 passengers and four crew members.
- The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with a bird strike being considered as a possible contributing factor.
- South Korea has launched a comprehensive inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country's carriers.
The Crash and Its Aftermath
The Jeju Air plane crash occurred on Sunday at Muan International Airport in South Korea. All 175 passengers and four crew members were killed in the crash, with only two flight staff surviving. The crash has been declared the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea's history. The country's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has announced a seven-day period of mourning and declared Muan a special disaster zone, making central government funding available to the local government and victims. All flights to and from Muan International Airport have been cancelled.
The Investigation
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with investigators examining the debris at the scene and looking into the plane's black box recordings. The decoding of the black boxes may be delayed due to damage. A bird strike has been identified as a possible factor in the crash, but many questions remain over exactly what happened in the final minutes of the flight. A team from the US is set to join South Korea's aviation authority in its investigation.
The Families' Grief and Frustration
Hundreds of the victims' family members have camped at the airport, waiting for the release of their loved ones' bodies. They have expressed frustration at a lack of timely updates from Jeju Air and government officials. The families are also calling for more support from the government and Jeju Air, including financial compensation.
The Impact on Jeju Air
Jeju Air has apologized to families and said it has no history of accidents. However, the airline's website has remained blank since the crash, with a black banner tribute at the top of the site. Passengers have been cancelling tickets for future flights, with travel agencies across South Korea reporting a high number of cancellations and a drop in the number of bookings.
The Search for Answers
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with officials examining the debris and looking into the plane's black box recordings. The decoding of the black boxes may be delayed due to damage. A bird strike has been identified as a possible factor in the crash, but many questions remain over exactly what happened in the final minutes of the flight.
