South Korean police look to charge 7 for lying about concrete structure in Jeju Air crash

South Korean police have announced they are seeking indictments against seven transport ministry officials in connection with the 2024 Jeju Air crash that claimed the lives of 179 passengers on board. The Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air overshot the runway at Muan International Airport after its landing gear failed to extend, striking a concrete structure and igniting into flames.

Authorities have discovered traces of a bird strike in the aircraft's engines, and the plane's two black boxes ceased recording approximately four minutes prior to the disaster. Many experts believe the concrete structure, which housed a set of antennas known as localisers that assist aircraft during landing, should be held accountable for the crash, as it should have been constructed using more easily removable materials.

Police revealed on Thursday that the seven officials were implicated in the creation of media statements asserting that the localisers were installed in compliance with both domestic and international regulations, a claim that proved false. The investigators have referred the cases to prosecutors, requesting that the seven officials face criminal charges for falsifying official documents, with a potential prison sentence of up to seven years upon conviction.

The Transport Ministry declined to comment on the police's announcement. In addition to these officials, police are investigating nearly 70 other individuals, including those involved in the installation of the localisers or the operations at Muan Airport. The crash marked South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster since 1997, yet no definitive official cause has been announced, and no one has been legally prosecuted yet.

The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board had previously planned to release initial investigation results last year, which suggested both engines of the plane sustained bird strikes, and the pilots turned off the less damaged engine just before the crash landing. However, the initial findings, which suggested human error, triggered strong protests from bereaved families and fellow pilots who accused authorities of attempting to shift blame onto the deceased pilots. The investigation board subsequently canceled the announcement.