S Korea orders air safety probe after deadly plane crash
EPASouth Korea’s acting chief has ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country’s entire airline operations, a day after 179 people were killed in the deadliest plane crash on its soil.
The Jeju Air plane burst into flames as it crash-landed in South Korea’s Muan International Airport, killing everyone onboard save for two crew members.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has asked investigators to promptly disclose their findings to bereaved families.
His request also comes as another Jeju Air flight turned back to Seoul shortly after takeoff on Monday, due to an unidentified landing-gear issue.
On Monday, the Jeju Air plane departed from Gimpo International Airport at 06:35 local period (21:35 GMT Sunday) and returned less than an hour later after realising a mechanical defect caused by the landing-gear issue, South Korea’s Yonhap information agency reported.
Landing gear refers to the set of wheels and other parts of the plane which back the plane during takeoff, taxiing and landing.
The aircraft that turned back was a Boeing B737-800, the same model as the one involved in the disaster on Sunday.
Thirty-nine of the 41 aircraft in Jeju Air’s fleet are of this model.
After Sunday’s deadly crash, Boeing had said it was in touch with Jeju Air and that it stood “ready to back them”.
The 179 passengers on flight 7C2216 were aged between three and 78 years ancient, although most were in their 40s, 50s and 60s, according to Yonhap information agency. Two Thai nationals are among the dead and the rest are believed to be South Korean, authorities have said.
On Sunday, the ill-fated plane had skidded off the runway after touching down and crashed into a wall shortly after 09:00 local period (00:00 GMT).
A South Korean transport official had said that the plane had been attempting to land but was forced to hold off after air traffic control gave a bird strike warning – an alert about the hazard of a collision with birds.
Air traffic command later gave permission for the plane to land from the opposite path, the official said.
The airline’s bosses bowed deeply as they gave a community apology at a press conference on Sunday.
“We deeply apologise to all those affected by the incident. We will make every attempt to resolve the circumstance,” the firm said in a statement.
Jeju Air shares were market activity around 8% lower in Seoul on Monday.
The accident is a national tragedy for South Korea, which has been embroiled in political turmoil after parliament voted to impech President Yoon Suk Yeol and his temporary successor Han Duck-soo.
Acting President Choi, who stepped into the interim role only on Friday, said he is “heartbroken” by the accident.
“To the honorable citizens of our country, as an acting president, my heart aches as we face this unforeseen tragedy amid recent economic hardships,” he said.
