One Year Later: Jeju Air Crash Report Delayed Amid Family Concerns Over Investigation Credibility
A South Korean investigation into the Jeju Air crash that claimed 179 lives is facing a significant delay, with officials indicating that a one-year deadline for a progress report will not be met. This news has left the families of the victims increasingly frustrated as they seek answers regarding the tragic incident.
The country’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has confirmed that it will not be able to provide an interim update by the first anniversary of the crash, which occurred on December 29, 2024. The Boeing 737-800 was forced to make an emergency belly landing at Muan airport, overshooting the runway and colliding with a concrete embankment, resulting in a catastrophic fireball that killed all but two of the 181 individuals on board.
In a preliminary report released in January, investigators noted that both engines of the aircraft had suffered bird strikes. However, details regarding the pilots’ decision to shut down the less-damaged engine after the incident were not made public until a July update, which faced objections from the victims’ families.
Victims’ Families Frustrated
Many family members feel that the investigation has unfairly focused on the pilots while neglecting other critical factors, such as the concrete structure beyond the runway that likely exacerbated the disaster’s severity. Ryu Kum-Ji, a 42-year-old woman who lost both parents in the crash, expressed her growing frustration: “It feels like all kinds of doubts are just growing bigger and bigger. In the meantime, a year has gone by, and it feels like the frustration is only continuing to build.”
Ryu, along with other bereaved family members, staged a protest outside a presidential office, demanding an independent and transparent investigation. She also pointed out potential missteps by the transport ministry, which oversees the investigation board. In response, a transport ministry official assured the families that their concerns would be taken seriously.
“We take seriously your concerns saying that government’s efforts were not sufficient in the process of (finding the truth),” stated the second vice minister of the transport ministry. “The government will stand by the bereaved families and take a closer look.” An independent probe by South Korea’s parliament is set to commence on Tuesday.
Report Delayed
According to U.N. aviation regulations, a final report is typically expected within a year of an accident. If this is not feasible, an interim statement should be released annually to outline the investigation’s progress and any safety concerns. However, the investigation board has decided against releasing an update at this time, citing pending legislation aimed at ensuring its independence.
Lawmakers are considering proposals to replace board members and shift oversight from the transport ministry to the prime minister’s office. “We will respect the decision of the newly formed committee regarding the timing of the interim statement’s publication,” one board official remarked.
Recent findings from South Korea’s anti-corruption body revealed that the concrete embankment at Muan airport did not meet local and international safety standards, which require such structures to be “frangible” to minimize damage in the event of an impact. This violation could have contributed to the severity of the crash.
The investigation board had initially planned public hearings for early December but postponed them at the request of victims’ families and lawmakers. Police are also conducting their own investigation into the incident.
“All we want is for authorities to admit they were wrong if they did wrong, and apologize. Apology and a proper disclosure of the truth…that is what we want,” Ryu emphasized.
(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Jungmin Ryu; additional reporting by Joyce Lee; editing by Ed Davies and Jamie Freed)
Photograph: The wreckage of a Boeing 737-800 plane operated by South Korean budget airline Jeju Air lies at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Korea, on Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
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A South Korean investigation into the Jeju Air crash that claimed 179 lives is facing a significant delay, with officials indicating that a one-year deadline for a progress report will not be met. This news has left the families of the victims increasingly frustrated as they seek answers regarding the tragic incident.
The country’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has confirmed that it will not be able to provide an interim update by the first anniversary of the crash, which occurred on December 29, 2024. The Boeing 737-800 was forced to make an emergency belly landing at Muan airport, overshooting the runway and colliding with a concrete embankment, resulting in a catastrophic fireball that killed all but two of the 181 individuals on board.
In a preliminary report released in January, investigators noted that both engines of the aircraft had suffered bird strikes. However, details regarding the pilots’ decision to shut down the less-damaged engine after the incident were not made public until a July update, which faced objections from the victims’ families.
Victims’ Families Frustrated
Many family members feel that the investigation has unfairly focused on the pilots while neglecting other critical factors, such as the concrete structure beyond the runway that likely exacerbated the disaster’s severity. Ryu Kum-Ji, a 42-year-old woman who lost both parents in the crash, expressed her growing frustration: “It feels like all kinds of doubts are just growing bigger and bigger. In the meantime, a year has gone by, and it feels like the frustration is only continuing to build.”
Ryu, along with other bereaved family members, staged a protest outside a presidential office, demanding an independent and transparent investigation. She also pointed out potential missteps by the transport ministry, which oversees the investigation board. In response, a transport ministry official assured the families that their concerns would be taken seriously.
“We take seriously your concerns saying that government’s efforts were not sufficient in the process of (finding the truth),” stated the second vice minister of the transport ministry. “The government will stand by the bereaved families and take a closer look.” An independent probe by South Korea’s parliament is set to commence on Tuesday.
Report Delayed
According to U.N. aviation regulations, a final report is typically expected within a year of an accident. If this is not feasible, an interim statement should be released annually to outline the investigation’s progress and any safety concerns. However, the investigation board has decided against releasing an update at this time, citing pending legislation aimed at ensuring its independence.
Lawmakers are considering proposals to replace board members and shift oversight from the transport ministry to the prime minister’s office. “We will respect the decision of the newly formed committee regarding the timing of the interim statement’s publication,” one board official remarked.
Recent findings from South Korea’s anti-corruption body revealed that the concrete embankment at Muan airport did not meet local and international safety standards, which require such structures to be “frangible” to minimize damage in the event of an impact. This violation could have contributed to the severity of the crash.
The investigation board had initially planned public hearings for early December but postponed them at the request of victims’ families and lawmakers. Police are also conducting their own investigation into the incident.
“All we want is for authorities to admit they were wrong if they did wrong, and apologize. Apology and a proper disclosure of the truth…that is what we want,” Ryu emphasized.
(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Jungmin Ryu; additional reporting by Joyce Lee; editing by Ed Davies and Jamie Freed)
Photograph: The wreckage of a Boeing 737-800 plane operated by South Korean budget airline Jeju Air lies at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Korea, on Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
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