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South Korean police raided Jeju Water and the operator of Muan Airport as they stepped up investigations into Sunday’s catastrophic plane crash that claimed 179 lives, marking the worst aviation disaster in the country’s recent history.
A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed after failing to deploy the landing gearskidded off the runway at Muan Airport and crashed into a concrete embankment.
The plane caught fire and was fatally injured all but two of its 181 passengers and the crew. The survivors, crew members sitting in the back, sustained injuries but were rescued.
Investigators searched Jeju Air’s office in Seoul, as well as facilities belonging to the airport operator and the transportation ministry’s aviation department in Muan for records related to aircraft maintenance and airport operations. A police official said the investigation was aimed at uncovering potential lapses in operational and security protocols.
The airline said it was looking into the situation, while the airport operator has yet to comment.
After the crash, aviation safety experts raised concerns about the embankment the plane crashed into, questioning the design of the structure designed to support navigation equipment.
“This rigid structure proved disastrous when the glider hit,” said Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering professor at the University of Southern California.
Such installations should use lighter materials such as metal towers to minimize damage during a crash, he said.
Investigators also questioned whether the levee should have been built with lighter materials to reduce its potential hazard.
The the incident is also under investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing, in cooperation with the South Korean authorities.
A preliminary analysis showed the plane encountered multiple problems, including a bird strike and an engine problem, before the crash.
Footage of the crash shows the plane belly-landing at high speed and catching fire after hitting a concrete wall. The pilot declared a state of emergency after warning of a bird strike, but reportedly attempted a second landing without success.
Black boxes found in the wreckage are being analyzed. While the cockpit voice recorder data was expected to be converted to audio files by Friday, the damaged flight data recorder was sent to the US for examination.
Transportation ministry officials said the audio files may not be released publicly because of the sensitivity of the investigation.
Acting President Choi Sang Mok, meanwhile, ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft in South Korea. “Given public concerns, thorough reviews of operation, maintenance and training procedures must be a priority,” Mr Choi said during a disaster management meeting.
The tragedy sparked a week of national mourning. Apart from two Thai nationals, the victims of the accident are all South Koreans, many of whom were returning home from a vacation in Bangkok.
Grieving relatives held a memorial service at the site of the accident on New Year’s Day, laying white flowers and offering traditional rice soup to honor their loved ones.