In brief
An investigation is underway into the Jeju Air crash that claimed 179 lives in South Korea, with the airline asserting that pre-flight checks detected no problems.
As the nation mourns the devastating loss, a Jeju Air passenger jet crashed in South Korea, leading to an investigative probe into the events leading up to the disaster. The airline's CEO, Kim Yi-bae, reported that a pre-flight inspection resulted in no abnormalities regarding the plane's landing gear. The ill-fated flight was traveling from Bangkok and crash-landed at Muan International Airport, sliding off the runway and colliding with a concrete wall, igniting in flames. The accident left only two crew members alive.Authorities are working to identify the deceased, with many families expressing discontent over the slow identification process. "We're still waiting for our loved ones to be identified," a relative of a victim lamented. Investigations are focused on various potential factors, including the possibility of a bird strike or challenging weather conditions as contributing elements to the landing gear malfunction.Despite the tragic circumstances, Kim Yi-bae stated the aircraft would not have been cleared for takeoff without rigorous safety checks, which include a strict maintenance checklist followed by sufficient staffing. Jeju Air has pledged to improve safety measures and will decrease its flight operations this winter to allow for increased maintenance efforts.As a gesture towards victims' families, Jeju Air plans to cover funeral costs and establish a compensation fund. Families affected by the incident have been camping out at Muan International Airport, seeking answers, as investigations continue into the factors surrounding the deadly crash. Mourners across the country are observing a week of national mourning, prompting many New Year celebrations to be scaled back or canceled altogether.
