A tragic plane crash in South Korea yesterday claimed the lives of 179 people. It has been revealed that the Jeju Air Boeing B 737-800 aircraft involved in the accident had completed 13 flights in the last 48 hours. Investigations into the cause of the crash and the airline’s operations are ongoing.
High Operation Numbers Raise Concerns
According to Yonhap News Agency, industry experts highlighted critical factors surrounding the accident. The aircraft was frequently used for low-cost charter flights facilitated by various travel agencies, with destinations including China, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and Taiwan.
Authorities noted that Jeju Air has one of the busiest aircraft utilization rates in the industry. Records indicate that the airline’s planes averaged 418 flight hours per month between July and September.
Technical Issue on a Similar Model
Shortly after the crash, Jeju Air officials disclosed that another Boeing B 737-800 in their fleet experienced a technical issue. The plane, which took off from Gimpo International Airport at 6:37 a.m. local time, returned due to a malfunction in its landing gear. Passengers on board—161 in total—were informed, and the flight resumed with another aircraft at 8:30 a.m. However, 21 passengers opted not to board the replacement flight due to safety concerns.
Jeju Air representative Song Kyung-hoon confirmed that inspections of the returned aircraft revealed the landing gear was operational.
How the Crash Occurred
Details of the crash in Muan, South Korea, are beginning to emerge. Officials have determined that the incident stemmed from a malfunction in the aircraft’s landing gear. During the first landing attempt, the gear failed to deploy. The aircraft lost control during a second, forced landing attempt, resulting in the fatal accident.
Jeju Air Under Investigation
In the wake of the crash, Jeju Air’s operations and maintenance practices are now under intense scrutiny. Known for its dense flight schedules, the airline is facing an investigation into its safety procedures and protocols.
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