7 gov't officials referred to prosecution for alleged cover-up linked to 2024 Jeju Air crash

Seven government officials have been referred to prosecutors in connection with an alleged cover-up surrounding the unfit status of a localizer system implicated in the 2024 Jeju Air crash, police revealed on Wednesday. The disastrous Dec. 29, 2024 incident claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew members when the aircraft executed an emergency belly landing at Muan International Airport, located approximately 290 kilometers south of Seoul.

The plane struck a concrete mound that housed the localizer, a navigation system designed to aid aircraft during landings.

The seven officials were referred to the prosecution on Tuesday for purportedly creating press releases asserting the localizer had been installed in compliance with regulations, despite being aware it was not, according to a special police investigation team. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the localizer's placement within the concrete mound became a topic of discussion regarding its potential contribution to the high death toll.

Shortly after the crash, the transport ministry released two press releases claiming the localizer met all regulatory requirements.

The police team suspects the ministry officials fabricated these documents by excluding pertinent information.