In the early morning of last Sunday, a plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea marked one of the deadliest global aviation disasters in years. The crash, killing 179 passengers and leaving only two surviving passengers, shocked the nation and the world.
The Juju Air flight, which had departed from Bangkok several hours earlier, was nearing its landing when the Boeing 737-800 encountered a bird strike near the control towers at Muan International Airport. Bird strikes are quite usual at the airport where several bird habitats exist. However, much of what came after was uncanny and tragic, as the plane overshot the runway before hitting a concrete structure that left the plane bursting into flames. Days after the incident, questions still remain regarding what happened, with many still left upheaval by the crash. At 8:59 a.m., the pilot of the aircraft reported the bird strike and was instructed to circle and abort the first landing attempt, as reported by The New York Times. However, the pilot did not take a full circle, and after receiving permission from the control tower, instead approached the runway after some time in the opposite direction. The plane then missed the usual “touchdown zone” where the plane would initially land, landing way further along the runway.
The plane’s landing gear was not visible in footage of the crash landing, and the wing flaps of the plane––used to control speed––were reported to be inactivated for landing. Keith Tonkin, the managing director of Aviation Projects, an aviation consulting company in Australia, said that the aircraft was “basically in a flying configuration … flying faster than it would normally be in a landing situation.” Lacking all these materials, the plane eventually overshot the runway and crashed into a concrete structure at the side of the airport, leaving the plane into ashes.
Lee Geun-young, who owns a restaurant next to the airport, heard loud bangs that he described as resembling a motorcycle engine backfiring. He quickly ran to the rooftop of his business, where he filmed about 54 seconds of footage of the crash, which has since been broadcast worldwide. The video shows the plane skidding down the runway on its belly before crashing into a barrier. By 9:03 a.m., the aircraft had burst into flames. “The heat on my face was like the steam rising from a sauna,” Lee remarked according to The Wall Street Journal.
Viewers and reporters stated that the only part of the aircraft that remained relatively “visible” after the crash was its tail, and every other section of the plane was dissolved into the smallest of fragments. The only two surviving members were both crew members, who were rescued and immediately taken to the local hospital for urgent treatment.
Investigators, looking into the incident, examined deeper to determine whether there were other causes to the crash-landing. South Korean Transport Ministry officials examined whether the concrete fence the plane hit should have been made with lighter materials, potentially saving the plane from total damage. Officials also investigated whether there were communication problems between the pilot and ground control towers, and ultimately stated that a total investigation of the crash would require months of work.
On Monday, December 30, South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok instructed an urgent safety review of the nation’s entire airline system. By the end of the week, the maintenance records for the engines and landing gear of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft used by South Korean airlines will be thoroughly examined. By that evening local time, over 145 bodies had been identified, with authorities still working to confirm the identities of about two dozen victims through DNA and fingerprint analysis. A support center has been set up by government agencies and airport officials to assist the families of the deceased.
One of the two survivors, a 33-year-old flight attendant, was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Seoul by Sunday evening. He sustained multiple fractures on the left side of his body and other injuries, though he did not suffer from burns. The flight attendant, identified by the surname Lee, is able to communicate enough to discuss his treatment. Lee recalled remembering the moment he buckled in for landing before losing consciousness. According to The Wall Street Journal, after regaining consciousness, Lee said, “I had been rescued.”
The crash marks the culmination of a turbulent month for South Korea, which began with former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s unprecedented yet brief declaration of martial law. This was followed by the opposition-led legislature voting to impeach both Yoon and his successor, Han Duck-soo. Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok is now serving as the country’s acting president. In addition, the safety minister resigned, and the police chief was arrested due to their involvement in the martial law decision. The lack of key officials responsible for disaster management has raised concerns among the public. Choi quickly visited the crash site, met with grieving families, and led emergency meetings to address the situation. On Monday, he ordered an urgent review of South Korea’s overall aircraft operations. As reported by AP News, Choi emphasized that the country should use the crash as an opportunity to implement measures to prevent similar tragedies and create a safer future.
World leaders extended their condolences as South Korea coped with the tragedy. Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed heartfelt sympathy to the victims’ families and directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide immediate assistance. U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement, expressing his “deep sadness” over the event.“As close allies, the American people share deep bonds of friendship with the South Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy. The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance,” he said according to AP News. The office of the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, spoke on his behalf, stating his “heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims [of the accident], and he expresses his solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Korea during this difficult time.” Pope Francis also offered his condolences from St. Peter’s Square, while Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed being “deeply saddened by the loss of many precious lives.”
On Tuesday, Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim Yi-bae, announced that the airline would reduce its winter flight schedule by 10-15% to allow for additional maintenance work. However, he emphasized that this decision did not indicate the company had too many planes in operation. According to BBC News, Kim noted that the plane involved in the crash had passed its inspection on the day of the incident, and the airline had been closely monitoring the weather conditions before and after the flight. Kim also mentioned a separate Jeju Air flight on Monday that encountered a landing gear issue and had to return to Seoul’s international airport. He clarified that the aircraft was declared safe after the pilot noticed that the casing covering the landing gear was slightly open and reported it, leading to the plane returning for maintenance.
During his press conference, Kim admitted that the airline had paid the highest fines and faced the most administrative penalties of any Korean airline over the past five years. However, he stressed that Jeju Air had consistently worked to improve its safety record. He assured that the airline follows a rigorous maintenance checklist, emphasizing, “If something was missed it would be a grave problem.” Jeju Air has expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to provide emergency compensation and cover funeral expenses. Kim also noted that the airline has no history of major accidents, and it is believed that Sunday’s crash is its only fatal incident since it began operations in 2005.
The area of Muan has been designated a special disaster zone, enabling the local government and victims to access central government funds. All flights to and from Muan International Airport have been suspended, and the airport remained closed until January 7. Authorities recovered a “black box” flight data recorder from the crash site, but it was missing a crucial connector, and officials are working on how to retrieve its data. However, they have already begun extracting information from the cockpit voice recorder, according to South Korea’s transport ministry. A national seven-day mourning period has been declared, and it is expected that New Year’s Day celebrations in the country will be either canceled or significantly reduced. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has stated that it is in contact with Jeju Air and is “ready to provide support,” according to BBC News.
