WionDrive News Desk 
A nationwide air safety review has been ordered by South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok in the wake of its deadliest aviation disaster, which left 179 dead at Muan International Airport. The cause of the crash is being investigated, and investigators are working to identify victims.
A Boeing 737-800, Jeju Air 7C2216 bound for Muan from Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew on board, skidded off the runway and slammed into the wall during a belly landing, resulting in flames. All 173 passengers perished, including two Thai nationals, along with four of the six crew members, who survived.
Choi called for transparency in the investigation and for the government to provide speedy support to the families of the victims. Of all airline operations, he ordered a safety emergency inspection of the transport ministry to avoid further accidents.
Investigators are trying to pin down possible causes, such as bird strikes and poor weather. According to preliminary findings, the pilots received a warning of birds near the runway before a bird strike was reported. Then, it sent its mayday and tried to abort its landing, then skidding 1,200 meters of the 2,800 meter runway and hitting a structure.
Transport ministry officials have also opened an investigation to determine whether the localizer antenna, situated at the end of the runway, contributed to the crash. Flight safety experts questioned the presence of the wall where the plane collided, and wondered if an arresting system would have attenuated the impact.
They were mainly South Korean holiday makers returning from Thailand. At Muan Airport on Monday, families gathered to identify victims. Nearby, a memorial was set up and acting President Choi visited to pay his respects.
It has prompted parallels to South Korea’s 2014 Sewol ferry disaster in which victims’ families have pushed for faster recovery and identification processes.
The flight data recorder has been recovered but may be damaged. International aviation experts, including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing, are assisting South Korea’s investigation.
Muan Airport remains closed until Wednesday, while other airports are operational. Jeju Air shares plummeted nearly 16%, marking their lowest levels to date.
