South Korean police search Jeju Air, airport operator offices over fatal plane crash
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All 175 passengers and four of six crew members were killed on Dec 29.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL - The South Korean police said on Jan 2 that they raided Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport as part of their investigation into the crash on Dec 29
Jeju Air Flight 2216, which departed Thai capital Bangkok for Muan in south-western South Korea, belly-landed and overshot the regional airport’s runway, exploding into flames after hitting an embankment.
Two crew members, who were sitting in the tail end of the Boeing 737-800, were pulled alive from the plane by rescuers. One of them was still in critical condition and the other was being treated for injuries, a Transport Ministry official said.
The conversion of data from the cockpit voice recorder to audio files, which could provide critical information on the final minutes of the flight, was completed on Jan 2, Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan said at a media briefing.
Police investigators were searching the offices of the airport operator and aviation authority in the county of Muan, as well as the office of Jeju Air in Seoul, the South Jeolla provincial police said in a statement.
Investigators planned to seize documents and materials related to the operation and maintenance of the aircraft, as well as the operation of airport facilities, a police official told Reuters.
Jeju Air was cooperating with the police, said Mr Song Kyeong-hoon, a director at the airline, at a media briefing.
Mr Kim E-bae, the airline’s chief executive, has been banned from leaving the country as the investigation continues.
Questions by air safety experts
“This rigid structure proved catastrophic when the skidding aircraft made impact,” said engineering professor Najmedin Meshkati at the University of Southern California. He added that it was concerning the navigation antenna was mounted on “such a formidable concrete structure, rather than the standard metal tower/pylon installation”.
Mr Joo said the ministry was still unable to provide clear details on Muan airport’s upgrade plans that had led to the addition of the structure to support the navigation system.
The ministry is conducting a check on localiser equipment at airports throughout the country, he added.
A probe into the doomed Jeju Air flight – involving South Korean officials, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the aircraft’s maker, Boeing – is also under way.
It remains unanswered why the aircraft did not deploy its landing gear and what led the pilot to apparently rush into a second attempt at landing after telling air traffic control that the plane had suffered a bird strike and declaring an emergency.
The aircraft’s flight data recorder, which sustained some damage, is being taken to the US for analysis in cooperation with the NTSB.
Mr Joo on Jan 1 said it may be difficult to release the audio files from the cockpit voice recorder to the public as they will be critical to the ongoing investigation.
Investigators from the NTSB, FAA and Boeing are in South Korea to help with the probe.
South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok said in a disaster management meeting that immediate action must be taken if a special inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated in the country finds any issues.
“As there’s great public concern about the same aircraft model involved in the accident, the Transport Ministry and relevant organisations must conduct a thorough inspection of operation maintenance, education and training,” Mr Choi said.
His comments at the start of the meeting were provided by his office.
Mr Choi asked that no effort be spared in helping the families of the victims as the remains of those killed are handed over to them. He also asked the police to take action against anyone posting “malicious” messages and fake news on social media related to the disaster.
‘I miss you’
On Jan 2 at the Muan airport, soldiers, the police and investigators in white suits were still combing the crash site, as orange-robed monks held prayer ceremonies nearby.
Inside the airport, the stairs were covered in colourful post-it notes left by mourners.
“Honey, I miss you way too much,” one of them said.
Another read: “Even if you faced lonely and painful moments in death, may you now soar like a butterfly.”
Relatives also left flowers and food, including tteokguk – rice cake soup traditionally enjoyed in South Korea on New Year’s Day – near the site as they said their goodbyes, many in tears.
Star chefs featured in Netflix’s mega-hit cooking competition show Culinary Class Wars, including chef Ahn Yu-seong, joined volunteers in Muan this week to prepare meals for victims’ families.
People nationwide were remotely pre-paying for coffee at the airport’s cafe so victims’ families, who have been camped out in the lounge since Dec 29 waiting for news, could drink for free.
More bodies were released to families on Jan 2 to prepare for funerals, the Land Ministry said. REUTERS, AFP
