South Korean Police Seek Indictments of 7 Transport Ministry Officials over Jeju Air Crash

South Korean police have requested indictments against seven transport ministry officials in connection with the 2024 Jeju Air crash that claimed 181 lives. The Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport after its landing gear failed to deploy, leading to a fiery crash. Traces of bird strike were discovered in the plane's engines, and the black boxes stopped recording four minutes before the disaster.

Authorities claim the concrete structure, housing localizer antennas guiding aircraft during landings, should be held accountable as it should have been made of more easily breakable materials. The police referred the cases to prosecutors, accusing the officials of falsifying official documents, with a potential prison sentence of up to seven years.

The Transport Ministry declined to comment on the police's announcement. Police are also investigating nearly 70 others, including those involved in the installation of the localizers or managing Muan airport. This South Korean aviation disaster, the deadliest since 1997, remains without a formal cause or legal prosecution, as the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board initially stated that both engines experienced bird strikes, and pilots shut down the less-damaged engine just before the crash-landing.

This conclusion, suggesting human error, infuriated bereaved families and fellow pilots who accused authorities of scapegoating the deceased pilots. The investigation board later rescinded its statement.