SEOUL: The South Korean government announced plans on Monday for an extensive safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines, in response to a Jeju Air crash that resulted in the loss of 179 lives. The incident, which occurred the previous day in Muan, reportedly involved a malfunction of all three landing gears.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the transport ministry is set to evaluate the adherence to safety regulations concerning the Boeing model across various airlines. This inspection will include a review of aircraft utilization rates, flight inspections, and maintenance records. The Boeing 737-800 model is widely used among South Korean low-cost carriers. Jeju Air leads in operating this model with 39 aircraft, followed by T'way Air with 27, Jin Air with 19, Eastar Jet with 10, and Air Incheon with two. Korean Air, the nation's largest airline, operates two of these aircraft.
In the wake of the crash, the ministry has notified all six airlines using the model that air safety inspectors will be dispatched to conduct thorough safety assessments. These assessments will focus on pilot training, as well as the engines and landing gears of the Boeing 737-800s. On the same day, another Jeju Air flight using the same model was forced to return to Gimpo International Airport due to a landing gear issue akin to the one involved in Sunday's crash.
Joo Jong-wan, the aviation policy chief at the transport ministry, stated during a briefing at the Sejong government complex that rigorous aviation safety inspections are planned in response to the recurring landing gear incidents. He also mentioned that Jeju Air's high aircraft utilization rate might have contributed to the crash, according to some observers.
Following the latest landing gear issue, safety inspectors were dispatched to Jeju Air to further investigate the situation. Meanwhile, one of the flight recorders recovered from the crash site showed external damage and has been moved to Gimpo International Airport for detailed analysis. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, Boeing, and engine manufacturer CFM International have all been approached to assist in the crash investigation.