As South Korea reels from its deadliest air disaster, authorities have formally identified all 179 victims, allowing bereaved families to begin funeral preparations. The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 175 passengers and four crew members, occurred Sunday when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed at Muan International Airport before slamming into a sand-and-concrete embankment and bursting into flames.
Two crew members, seated at the rear of the aircraft, were the sole survivors of the crash.
#The Ministry of Transport announced Wednesday that data from the plane’s cockpit voice recorder has been successfully extracted and is being converted into an audio file, a process expected to take two days. The audio may shed light on the final moments leading up to the crash.
However, the flight data recorder, which was heavily damaged, will require analysis in the United States with the assistance of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan confirmed that a team of around two dozen investigators, including officials from the NTSB, Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing, is on-site. They plan to visually examine the wreckage while probing potential causes such as a bird strike, landing gear failure, or other control system malfunctions.
The investigation will also focus on the pilot’s decision to attempt a rushed landing after declaring an emergency and whether the airport’s embankment, designed to support navigation equipment, was positioned too close to the runway.
South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok has called for a fair and objective investigation and emphasized the importance of returning victims to their families. A national mourning period has been declared until January 4, with scaled-back New Year’s celebrations.
On Wednesday, hundreds of grieving family members visited the crash site, where an altar had been set up. Mourners laid chrysanthemums and bowls of rice cake soup near the aircraft’s charred remains, paying their respects just meters from the wreckage.
Local authorities reported that nearly 700 relatives had gathered at the site, leading to long queues. To accommodate the influx of mourners, a larger memorial was established at a sports complex approximately 9 kilometers away.
While funeral arrangements are underway, delays persist in releasing victims’ bodies. Park Han-shin, a liaison for the bereaved families, revealed that 43 bodies are ready for release, urging patience from relatives still waiting.
Authorities assured families that efforts are ongoing to expedite the process, though it may take several days before all remains are returned to their loved ones.
The crash has plunged South Korea into mourning, with communities rallying around the victims’ families. As investigations continue, the nation remains focused on uncovering the causes of the tragedy and ensuring justice for those affected.