MUAN COUNTY, South Korea

South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered an emergency safety inspection of the entire airline operation system on Monday as investigators work to identify victims of the deadliest air disaster in the country's history.

The Incident

All 175 passengers and four of the six crew members died when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport, erupting in flames upon crashing into a wall. Only two crew members survived.

Choi emphasized the importance of identifying the victims, supporting their families, and treating the survivors during a disaster management meeting in Seoul. He urged officials to transparently disclose the investigation process and keep bereaved families informed.

He also requested the transport ministry to conduct an emergency inspection of the entire aircraft operation system to prevent further accidents. The ministry is considering whether to inspect all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines.

Flight Details

Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew, attempted to land shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday. Investigators are looking into bird strikes and weather conditions as potential crash factors. Experts raise concerns about the aircraft's speed and the landing gear status.

As the pilots approached, they reported a bird strike to air traffic control, who had previously warned of birds in the area. They declared a mayday and intended to go around before the belly landing occurred.

Investigation

Officials are examining the role of the localiser antenna located at the runway’s end. The crash killed many local residents returning from Thailand, including two Thai nationals. Investigators struggled to identify victims as anguished families awaited news at the airport.

Park Han-shin, a victim’s brother, encourages families to unite in recovery efforts, recalling the prolonged identification process after the 2014 ferry disaster.

Recovery Efforts

Emergency workers sifted through wreckage impacted by flames and debris. The jet's flight data recorder was recovered but might be damaged.

While Muan airport remains closed until Wednesday, other regional and international airports, including Incheon International, are operating normally. Jeju Air's shares plummeted to a record low, falling 15.7%.

Investigation Collaboration

Under global aviation rules, South Korea will lead a civil investigation with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) due to the plane’s design origin. Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration are also involved.

Choi has been overseeing recovery and investigation efforts after becoming acting leader three days ago following government impeachments due to a brief martial law.

(This story has been refiled to add dropped words in paragraph 12)