In the SBS current affairs program “Curious Story Y,” they will cover the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster. On the episode airing on the 3rd, the tragic incident involving Jeju Air flight 7C2216 will be discussed. The aircraft, a B737-800, departed from Bangkok, Thailand, and for unknown reasons veered off the runway at Muan International Airport, collided, and exploded. Out of 181 passengers, 179 perished, with only two crew members surviving after being rescued at the scene.
“What led to such a tragedy?” According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, at 8:57 AM, the control tower issued a “bird strike” warning to the aircraft. Two minutes later, the pilot issued a “Mayday” distress call, and by 9:03 AM, the plane had collided with the localizer, a facility that aids aircraft landing, leading to the explosion.
Witnesses described hearing loud noises. One said, “I heard banging noises from outside. It was unusual, so I went out to check. Normally, you don’t hear those sounds,” adding that when they looked, “there were screeching sounds and I saw flames.”
Several theories regarding the cause of the accident have been proposed. Some speculate that a bird strike during landing caused the issue, while others believe that the reinforced concrete localizer’s structure may have exacerbated the accident’s scale. The producers intend to verify these claims with multiple experts.
There are also suspicions about the aircraft’s aging and possible maintenance issues by the airline. The day after the accident, a Jeju Air plane of the same model had to return due to landing gear issues. However, Jeju Air stated that there were no problems during maintenance. Without the final accident investigation results, it is challenging to anticipate the outcome. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has pledged a thorough investigation to determine the cause.
Families who lost loved ones in the sudden disaster remain at the scene, waiting for recovery operations and responses. With the cause of the accident still unresolved, their emotional distress is indescribable. As the truth behind this plane crash, which claimed many lives, is expected to take more time to uncover, South Korea remains in deep sorrow.