A routine flight this Sunday became the most devastating air disaster in South Korea in more than two decades, when a Jeju Air plane crashed while trying to land at Muan International Airport, in Jeonnam province. It was a Boeing 737-8AS that was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, of which only two managed to escape the tragedy. This devastating incident occurs in a context of political and economic instability in Seoul, following the controversial imposition of martial law by ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol, which has generated a wave of indignation and uncertainty in the nation.
The accident occurred around 9:03 a.m. (local time) during a landing maneuver of a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok in which 181 people were traveling, according to Police and Firefighters sources cited by the agency. South Korean news outlet Yonhap. Initial hypotheses suggest that, after leaving the runway, the collision could have occurred as a result of a failure of the landing gear, probably caused by the impact of a bird against the aircraft. The pilots tried, without success, an emergency approach and, having failed to reduce the speed of the plane before reaching the end of the runway, they crashed into some structures on the outer edge of the enclosure, leaving the fuselage destroyed and wrapped in flames The death toll is the highest in the Asian nation since an Air China plane crashed near Busan in 2002, killing 129 people, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of absolute chaos at the scene of the brutal crash, with emergency services speeding up their arrival. A surviving passenger, located in the rear of the aircraft, reported that he felt like a “brutal shake,” followed by a dense cloud of smoke that invaded the cabin, according to local media. The occupants did not have enough time to react before the fire consumed the plane.
Relatives of the victims gathered at Muan airport, eager to receive news about their loved ones, as crisis management teams provided assistance. The South Korean government has ensured a thorough investigation and promised immediate support to affected families. “We will spare no effort to clarify the causes of this tragic incident,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport in an official statement.
For his part, Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae issued an official apology following statements from the authorities, which indicated that it is unlikely that there are more survivors. Kim assured that the company will make an “all-out effort” to address the deadly accident. «We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. At this time, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, we must wait for the results of the official investigation from the relevant agencies,” he added.
This event has raised serious concerns about commercial aviation safety and the effectiveness of emergency protocols in critical situations. The Boeing 737-8AS had begun operating this route less than a month ago, in the context of the reactivation of regular international flights at Muan Airport, after a hiatus of 17 years, according to company sources. In the aviation sector, criticism has arisen about the premature introduction of these operations. An industry official told the Korea Times: “This airfield does not have much experience operating, even in domestic flights, and the tight schedules of low-cost carriers such as Jeju Air may have overwhelmed its operational capacity.”
However, the circumstances surrounding this event are currently under investigation, as aviation experts analyze the factors that may have contributed to this calamity at an airport that, until this point, had maintained a history free of significant incidents. Even so, an avalanche of conspiracy theories was unleashed on social networks. Experts warn that air incidents often arise from a mix of technical failures and human error. The irresponsible dissemination of absurd speculation could complicate investigations and hinder the search for the truth. Among the occurrences that circulate, some even relate the disaster to shamanic practices or suggest the black hand of North Korea.
The aircraft involved in the accident was HL8088, a Boeing 737-8AS that was originally delivered to Ryanair in September 2009. This model operated until its retirement in November 2016. After a brief period of inactivity, it was transferred to the Korean airline in early 2017. Since then, it has been operating regular flights, connecting Dublin Airport (DUB) with Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) and Gimpo (GMP) in Seoul.
Founded in 2005, Jeju Air has established itself as one of the pillars of South Korean aviation, operating with a fleet of 42 aircraft as a low-cost airline. However, it has accumulated a history of incidents that have called its operational management into question. Among them, in March 2016, a Boeing 737-800, registration HL8033, carrying out flight 7C-3402 from Seoul to Saipan, experienced an engine blackout in mid-flight, a critical event that could have had serious consequences. In October 2018, another Boeing 737-800, registration HL8049, suffered a tire burst while landing in Jeju, underscoring the need to review maintenance and landing protocols. In September 2021, flight 7C-133, with registration HL8089, was about to abort a landing because the flaps and gear were not correctly positioned; Despite the first officer’s warning, the captain decided to continue with the shot, highlighting problems in communication in the cockpit. Likewise, in March 2021, flight 7C-264, under the registration HL8322, had unwanted contact with the runway, touching the left wing just before landing in Busan.
Historic fatalities on Korean airlines
On August 6, 1997, Korean Air Flight 801 suffered a fatal accident during its approach to Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam, resulting in the tragic loss of 229 of the 254 occupants on board. This incident ranks as one of the most severe air disasters in aviation history, prompting a comprehensive reassessment of safety regulations and practices in the sector. Subsequent investigations identified critical deficiencies in pilot training, communications effectiveness, and navigation technology used on the aircraft. As a result, significant reforms were implemented that strengthened crew proficiency protocols and optimized procedures for night operations and cockpit resource management.
On the other hand, on September 1, 1983, Korean Air Flight 007 inadvertently entered the restricted airspace of the Soviet Union. Misclassified as a hostile target, it was shot down by Soviet forces, killing 269 people. This event highlighted the vulnerability of international relations in the field of aviation and the prevailing need for more rigorous management of operations in sensitive regions and high geopolitical tension.