Among other measures, investigators are investigating a suspected communication breakdown between air traffic controllers and the pilot before to the catastrophic collision.South Korean officials announced on Monday that they would undertake safety checks on all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by the country’s carriers.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, presided over a task force meeting on Monday to conduct an emergency evaluation of the country’s aircraft operation systems. Choi holds the dual roles of finance minister and deputy prime minister.
The core of a responsible approach lies in overhauling the aviation safety systems entirely to avoid similar incidents in the future and create a safer South Korea,” he stated.
Travel anxiety soars in South Korea, and visitors cancel flights following the Jeju Air tragedy.
Alan Price, who previously served as a chief pilot for Delta Air Lines and currently works as a consultant, shared with the Associated Press that the Boeing 737-800 is a “reliable aircraft” and is distinct from the 737 Max series, which faced intense scrutiny between 2018 and 2019 following multiple fatal accidents.
The transport ministry plans to perform a safety assessment of all 101 Boeing 737-800 jetliners flown by the country’s airlines, as well as a larger review of safety standards at Jeju Air.
The firm, whose plane crashed on Sunday, owns 39 Boeing 737-800 series aircraft.
A ministry official also stated that representatives from the United States National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing will arrive on Monday to participate in the investigation.
Other measures:
The government will also investigate whether the Muan airport’s localiser, a concrete fence housing a pair of antennas used to guide aircraft safely during landings, should be constructed with lighter materials that will break readily on impact. Other domestic airports, notably those on Jeju Island and in the southern cities of Yeosu and Pohang, have similar lightweight buildings.
Pilot declared mayday: What caused the Jeju Air plane disaster in South Korea?
Officials are also investigating a probable communication breakdown between air traffic controllers and the pilot preceding the catastrophic crash.
A ministry representative stated that it appears communication may have become ineffective or was disrupted at some stage during the go-around process, prior to the landing and impact.
Flight data and cockpit audio recorders from the crashed aircraft were transported to a research facility at Gimpo Airport for study.
The political upheaval after now-impeached President Yoon’s declaration of martial law has generated concerns among Koreans about the government’s ability to handle the problem.
The safety minister resigned, and the police chief was detained for his apparent involvement in the martial law saga. The absence of important disaster-management authorities raised additional concerns.
