The aviation world stands rooted to the ground, grappling with the aftermath of the Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crash, which tragically unfolded on December 29, 2024. This catastrophic incident, marking the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea’s history, claimed the lives of 179 out of the 181 people on board. Families, tourists returning from Bangkok, Thailand, were part of this heartbreaking story.
Search and recovery operations wrapped up on January 6, 2025, completing the somber task of recovering victims and identifying the deceased. Now, as the dust settles, the focus shifts to unraveling the causes behind this heartbreaking tragedy at Muan International Airport.
How did this tragedy occur? On the morning of December 29, the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 was making its approach when the situation rapidly deteriorated. At 8:57 a.m., the airport's air traffic control team warned the aircraft of the possibility of bird strikes. Just two minutes later, the pilot declared a Mayday and attempted to execute what is termed as a 'go-around,' diverting from the initial landing on Runway 01 to try again from Runway 19—a move captured by nearby residents' videos.
Despite these efforts, the aircraft failed to deploy its landing gear or utilize the necessary flaps during its descent, which fuelled speculation about possible hydraulic system failure—an inquiry currently underway. With no reduction of speed, the plane crash-landed partway down the runway, sliding on its belly and colliding with a concrete embankment housing the localizer. This collision, occurring at 9:03 a.m., not only led to the aircraft’s complete disintegration but also resulted in the immediate loss of life for nearly everyone onboard.
Authorities declared Muan County a special disaster zone on the day of the crash, initiating a week-long national mourning period. Yet, with the search and recovery phase concluding, the public discourse now pivots to pressing questions surrounding the cause of the disaster. Investigators suspect bird strikes—corroborated by the high rate of bird encounters at the airport. Muan International Airport, as noted, has four migratory bird habitats surrounding it, yet it operates with only four personnel on its bird control team, with one on duty during the incident.
This has led to questions surrounding the concrete embankment at the end of Runway 19. Critics are questioning whether its construction violated safety norms, as the embankment—a formidable two meters tall—contributed to the severity of the crash once the aircraft landed belly-first and failed to slow down.
Ongoing investigations by the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board include the assessment of the aircraft's components, and both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder are undergoing detailed analysis. The cockpit voice recorder's transcription, which captures the final two hours of conversations, was completed earlier this month, providing insights necessary for unraveling the disaster’s chain of events.
The ramifications extend beyond immediate investigations. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has initiated widespread inspections of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft within the operations of six South Korean airlines, including Jeju Air. Jeju Air announced plans to cut 10 to 15 percent from its usual winter flight schedule, indicating the larger impact on operational capacities following this disaster.
Recovery efforts have also blossomed, showcasing unity among citizens during such trying times. A joint memorial altar has emerged for the victims, set up at 105 locations across 17 cities and provinces. By Saturday evening, over 285,000 people had visited to pay their respects.
Among the volunteers, young Jeon Si-yoon, aged just 12, traveled alone to help those affected by the tragedy. Ahn Yoo-sung, renowned chef from the Netflix cooking competition 'Culinary Class Wars,' prepared nutritious meals for the grieving families. Such acts of service and community solidarity have provided glimmers of hope amid the disaster's long shadow.
With the government promising continued support for the bereaved families, there are plans to establish organizations dedicated to assisting them through their grieving processes. These measures are welcomed as families navigate the long road of grief with the recent loss of loved ones endured during the fateful flight.
The Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crash investigation has pointed toward multiple sides of scrutiny surrounding regulatory compliance, aircraft safety inspections, and disaster response protocols. Future developments are awaited with bated breath as both authorities and families seek closure from this devastating loss.
While the wreckage of the plane remains on the runway, buried under the memories of hauntings past, the lessons learned from this tragedy must fuel efforts for enhanced safety measures, ensuring no incident of this magnitude occurs again.