- Jeju Air, South Korea’s largest low-cost carrier, experienced its first fatal accident, resulting in at least 176 fatalities.
- CEO Kim E-bae expressed deep regret and convened an emergency meeting, promising full cooperation with the government investigation.
- The crashed aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, had no prior accident history; initial findings suggest a landing gear malfunction.
- The incident has sparked a major investigation and raised questions about aviation safety in South Korea.
In a tragic turn of events, Jeju Air, South Korea’s largest low-cost carrier, experienced its first fatal accident since its establishment in 2005. The accident occurred on a Sunday morning when Jeju Air flight 7C 2216, arriving from Bangkok, overshot the runway at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, crashing into the perimeter fence and bursting into flames. The crash resulted in at least 176 confirmed fatalities out of the 181 people on board, which included 175 passengers and six crew members. The death toll was expected to rise, with most of the missing presumed dead.
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae expressed his deep regret and offered sincere apologies to all the victims and their bereaved families at a press briefing held in Seoul. He stated, Regardless of the cause of the accident, I feel a great responsibility as the CEO. The CEO’s apology came hours after the accident, which occurred at around 9:03 a.m.
In response to the crash, Kim convened an emergency meeting at the company’s air support center in Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, with all executive and management-level employees reportedly in attendance. During the briefing, the CEO stated that The cause of the accident is difficult to confirm at this time, and we are awaiting the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies, adding, We will spare no effort to manage the accident promptly and support the families of the passengers, while cooperating fully with the government to determine the cause of the accident.
Investigation and Response
The company had established a response headquarters at the accident site, with around 260 employees deployed by 5 p.m. to assist the victims’ families. A separate team would be formed to support the government’s investigation into the incident. The crashed aircraft is covered by aviation insurance with a liability cap of $1 billion. We will do everything possible to support the injured and the families of the deceased, in accordance with the insurance, stated Song Kyung-hoon, the head of Jeju Air’s management support division.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800, a small 189-seat jet that has been in service for 15 years. Jeju Air began leasing the plane second-hand in February 2017. The aircraft had no prior accident history and had undergone regular maintenance, with no abnormalities detected before the crash.
Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances and causes of the accident. Initial findings suggest a landing gear malfunction, which led to an emergency belly landing and caused the aircraft to overrun the runway and strike perimeter fences. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated that the control tower alerted the flight to a potential bird strike at around 8:57 a.m., almost immediately followed by a mayday call from the pilot. The crash occurred just minutes after the emergency signal. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the bird strike was the definitive cause.
Historical Context and Future Implications
The tragic event has sparked a major investigation, with hundreds of family members camped out overnight at the international airport in Muan County, desperate for answers about what happened to their loved ones and demanding to be able to see their remains. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to dispatch a U.S. investigation team to assist with the probe, with consultations also ongoing with Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, and CFM International, a joint venture between the United States and France that manufactured the plane’s engine.
The accident has raised questions about the safety of aviation in South Korea, with some experts suggesting that bird strikes affecting landing gear is a rare occurrence. The investigation will also look into whether the localizer, which includes a concrete fence surrounding a set of antennas designed to help guide aircraft during landings, should have been made with materials that would have broken more easily upon impact.
This tragic event is reminiscent of the 2009 US Airways Airbus A320 incident, famously known as the Miracle on the Hudson, where the plane made a successful emergency landing on the Hudson River after bird strikes disabled both of its engines. Unlike the Jeju Air crash, there were no casualties in the US Airways incident, highlighting the severity and tragic nature of the South Korean accident.
As the investigation continues, the findings will provide valuable insights to further enhance aviation safety, ensuring that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation globally. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust emergency preparedness plans and the critical role of effective emergency response strategies at airports.
The Jeju Air tragedy is a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with air travel, despite it being one of the safest modes of transportation. As the investigation unfolds, it is crucial to remember the lives lost and the families affected by this devastating event. The findings will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing efforts to enhance aviation safety and prevent such incidents in the future.