In brief
An investigation into the tragic Jeju Air Flight 2216 disaster, South Korea's worst air accident, has come under scrutiny for placing the fault primarily on pilot error. Families of the victims criticized a recent report which concluded that the pilot mistakenly shut down the wrong engine following a bird strike while attempting to land at Muan International Airport. The incident, which took place on December 29, resulted in the loss of 179 lives out of the 181 aboard the flight.
According to local media, the aviation investigators determined that the left engine, undamaged at the time, was shut off instead of the right engine that had sustained critical damage from the bird hit. Despite the report's findings, bereaved families highlighted the absence of consideration for the concrete barrier situated at the runway's end, arguing that it played a significant role in exacerbating the tragedy. In their statement, the families have called for a full and transparent examination of all factors related to the crash, demanding a press briefing only after a thorough investigation has been completed. The pilots' union for Jeju Air has echoed these sentiments, asserting that the report overly concentrated on pilots' errors at the expense of addressing other critical factors contributing to the crash. Despite the backlash, insiders claim that investigators are steadfast in their findings, maintaining they have substantial evidence to support their conclusions. In response to the disaster, South Korea's transport ministry announced intentions to remove concrete barriers at seven airports. Additionally, a criminal complaint has been lodged against Jeju Air's CEO, Kim E-bae, alongside 23 others, citing professional negligence related to the accident.
