The Boeing 737-800, the model involved in Sunday’s Jeju Air crash, is widely used by South Korea’s budget airlines.
Following Sunday’s fatal crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced a comprehensive inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated within the country, according to Yonhap news agency.
This decision comes after a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers from Bangkok, experienced a catastrophic landing at Muan International Airport, approximately 290km southwest of Seoul. The plane skidded off the runway, impacting a wall, and subsequently caught fire. The incident resulted in 179 fatalities; two crew members survived and are receiving medical treatment.
Initial investigations suggest a potential landing gear malfunction as the cause of the tragedy, though a full inquiry is underway. Boeing 737-800 aircraft are predominantly flown by South Korea’s low-cost carriers. Jeju Air operates 39 of these planes, while T’way Air, Jin Air, Eastar Jet, Air Incheon, and Korean Air operate a combined total of 62.
Reports emerged on Monday detailing another Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 that returned to a South Korean airport shortly after takeoff due to a suspected landing gear problem.
In response, South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok mandated an emergency safety review of the nation’s entire airline system to prevent future incidents. President Choi emphasized the importance of transparency in the accident investigation, prompt communication with the victims’ families, and prioritizing the identification of victims, support for their families, and care for the survivors.
While initial media reports suggested a bird strike as a possible cause of the landing gear malfunction, aviation experts have voiced skepticism regarding this theory in interviews with Reuters.