The recent tragic crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 in Muan has sent shockwaves through South Korea, which is already dealing with political instability following the successive impeachments of President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Amid the ongoing political turmoil, many are concerned about the government’s ability to effectively manage the crisis.
On Monday, acting President Choi Sang-mok, also South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, chaired a task force meeting to address the disaster. Choi emphasized the need for urgent reforms to the country’s aviation safety systems to prevent similar incidents in the future and to ensure the safety of South Korean citizens.
The crash occurred after the Jeju Air flight aborted its first landing attempt for reasons still under investigation. During the second attempt, a bird strike warning was issued, followed by the pilot’s distress signal. The plane ultimately landed without its front landing gear, overshot the runway, and crashed into a concrete fence, bursting into flames.
Despite the Boeing 737-800 being a well-regarded, reliable aircraft, South Korea’s Transport Ministry announced plans to conduct safety inspections of all 101 Boeing 737-800s operated by South Korean airlines, including 39 planes by Jeju Air. U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) representatives and Boeing experts are assisting in the investigation. Authorities are also reviewing the Muan airport’s localizer system, which failed to guide the plane safely, and the concrete fence’s impact resistance, considering similar structures at other airports in South Korea and globally.
Preliminary analysis suggests that the pilots may have faced a hydraulic failure that prevented them from deploying flaps or landing gear. Despite the challenges, the plane remained in control and on a straight trajectory. Experts believe the proximity of the concrete barrier to the runway significantly contributed to the severity of the crash.
Meanwhile, another Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 experienced a landing gear issue on the same day but was able to return safely to Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport after consulting with ground control. The Transport Ministry is investigating possible communication issues between air traffic controllers and the pilot, which may have complicated the go-around process.
The crash has raised questions about the state of South Korea’s aviation safety and regulatory standards. This disaster, which has claimed numerous lives, marks the deadliest aviation accident in the country since 1997, when a Korean Airlines crash in Guam killed 228 people. South Koreans are also deeply shaken by the coincidence of this tragedy with the ongoing political crisis stemming from President Yoon’s controversial martial law decree earlier this month.
As the nation enters a seven-day period of mourning, authorities have identified 146 bodies and are in the process of recovering the remaining victims. Families of the deceased have expressed grief over the extensive damage to the bodies, demanding quicker and more thorough identification. Park Han Shin, a spokesperson for the families, called on the government to dedicate additional resources to expedite the process.
This disaster, coupled with political instability, has left many questioning whether the government can effectively manage such a crisis. The editorial in the prominent JoongAng Ilbo newspaper highlighted the growing concerns about the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ ability to lead the country through this tragedy amidst the leadership vacuum.
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