Seoul: In a decisive move to enhance air transport safety, South Korea's government announced plans on Monday to inspect all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines following a tragic Jeju Air crash that resulted in 179 fatalities. The incident, which occurred in the southwestern county of Muan, raised concerns about the reliability of the aircraft's landing gear systems.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the crash involved a Boeing B737-800, a model extensively used by several South Korean low-cost carriers. Preliminary investigations suggest that the failure of all three landing gears to operate properly contributed to the accident. In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has pledged to scrutinize compliance with safety regulations by domestic airlines. This includes evaluating aircraft utilization rates, flight inspections, and maintenance records.
Jeju Air, the largest operator of the Boeing 737-800 in South Korea with 39 aircraft, will be subject to particularly rigorous safety inspections. Other operators, such as T'way Air with 27 aircraft, Jin Air with 19, and Eastar Jet with 10, will also undergo inspections.
The urgency of these inspections was underscored by an incident on Monday involving another Jeju Air flight of the same model, which returned to Gimpo International Airport due to a similar landing gear issue. This prompted the ministry to dispatch safety inspectors to the airline for further investigation.
"We plan to implement rigorous aviation safety inspections in response to the (landing gear) incidents," Joo Jong-wan, the aviation policy chief at the transport ministry, stated during a briefing at the Sejong government complex. Joo highlighted concerns regarding Jeju Air's high aircraft utilization rate, which some experts believe may have played a role in the recent crash.
In the ongoing investigation, one of the two flight recording devices recovered from the crash site was found to be externally damaged, as reported by Joo. This device has been sent to Gimpo International Airport for detailed analysis. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will collaborate in the investigation, and Boeing, along with engine manufacturer CFM International, has been approached for assistance.