Following the tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 on December 29, which resulted in the deaths of 179 out of 181 people on board, South Korean police have banned CEO Kim E-bae from leaving the country. This restriction is part of a broader investigation into the incident, marking it as the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea’s history since 1997
On January 2, police conducted raids at Muan International Airport, Jeju Air’s offices in Seoul, and a regional aviation authority as part of their investigation. These operations aim to gather evidence related to the crash, which occurred when the Boeing 737-800 belly-landed due to a landing gear failure and subsequently crashed into an embankment
The flight was returning from Thailand when it encountered issues during landing. Preliminary reports suggest possible contributing factors such as mechanical failure or a bird strike. The aircraft attempted an emergency landing without its landing gear extended, leading to a catastrophic impact
South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok emphasized the need for immediate inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated in the country following this incident. Authorities are also reviewing operational protocols and maintenance practices across the aviation sector to prevent future tragedies
Investigators have retrieved data from one of the flight’s black boxes, while the second box, which was damaged, is being sent to the United States for further analysis. The findings from these devices are expected to provide critical insights into the final moments of Flight 2216
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