By Ju-min Park and Hongji Kim
MUAN COUNTY, South Korea (Reuters) -South Korea’s appearing President Choi Sang-mok on Monday ordered an emergency security inspection of the nation’s whole airline operation system as investigators labored to determine victims and discover what brought on the nation’s deadliest air catastrophe.
The crash on Sunday killed 179 folks when a Jeju Air jet belly-landed and skidded off the top of the runway, erupting in a fireball because it slammed right into a wall at Muan Worldwide Airport. Two crew members have been pulled out alive.
The highest precedence for now’s figuring out the victims, supporting their households and treating the 2 survivors, Choi informed a catastrophe administration assembly in Seoul.
“Even earlier than the ultimate outcomes are out, we ask that officers transparently disclose the accident investigation course of and promptly inform the bereaved households,” he mentioned.
“As quickly because the accident restoration is carried out, the Transport Ministry is requested to conduct an emergency security inspection of all the plane operation system to stop recurrence of plane accidents,” he mentioned.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from the Thai capital Bangkok with 175 passengers and 6 crew on board, was attempting to land shortly after 9 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Sunday on the airport within the south of the nation.
Investigators are inspecting fowl strikes and climate situations as attainable components within the crash, fireplace officers have mentioned. Specialists say many questions stay, together with why the twin-engine Boeing (NYSE:) 737-800 gave the impression to be travelling so quick and why its touchdown gear didn’t seem like down when it skidded down the runway and right into a wall.
The crash killed largely native residents who have been getting back from holidays in Thailand, whereas two Thai nationals additionally died.
On Monday morning, investigators have been attempting to determine a number of the final remaining victims, as anguished households waited contained in the Muan airport terminal.
Park Han-shin, who misplaced his brother within the crash, mentioned he was informed by authorities that his brother had been recognized however has not been in a position to see his physique.
Park known as on different victims’ households to unite in responding to the catastrophe and restoration efforts, citing a 2014 ferry sinking that killed greater than 300 folks. Extended efforts to determine the victims and explanation for the sinking adopted that catastrophe.
Emergency staff have been sifting via wreckage that was almost fully destroyed when the plane was engulfed in an explosion of flames and particles on the regional airport close to the nation’s winding western shoreline.
Transportation ministry officers mentioned the jet’s flight information recorder was recovered however appeared to have sustained some harm on the skin and it was not but clear whether or not the info was sufficiently intact to be analyzed.
The Muan airport stays closed via Wednesday however the remainder of the nation’s worldwide and regional airports together with the principle Incheon Worldwide Airport have been working as scheduled.
Shares of South Korean funds provider Jeju Air hit their lowest degree on document on Monday, buying and selling as a lot as 15.7% decrease.
Below world aviation guidelines, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and routinely contain the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) in america the place the airplane was designed and constructed.
The NTSB mentioned it was main a crew of U.S. investigators to assist South Korea’s aviation authority. Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration have been additionally collaborating.
Choi, who was overseeing restoration efforts and the investigation, grew to become appearing chief simply three days in the past after the nation’s president and prime minister have been impeached over the imposition of a short-lived martial regulation.
