A devastating crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea has claimed the lives of 179 individuals, after a Jeju Air flight made a belly landing without its landing gear deployed. The incident, which resulted in the aircraft bursting into flames, is being called the nation's worst air disaster in decades.
In response to the tragedy, South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an urgent inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft within the country. This action comes as the ill-fated Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 was a 737-800 model. The Boeing 737-800 is a widely used aircraft known for its strong safety record. It is important to note that this model is distinct from the Boeing 737 Max, which faced grounding after two fatal crashes several years ago.
The global fleet includes nearly 4,400 Boeing 737-800s, making up about 17% of all commercial passenger jets currently in service. According to aviation data firm Cirium, the average age of these aircraft is 13 years, with the last deliveries occurring around five years ago. The specific aircraft involved in the recent crash was delivered to Jeju Air in 2017, after previously operating under European carrier Ryanair, and was approximately 15 years old.
Aerospace experts have expressed that a design flaw is unlikely to be the cause of the crash, citing the model's long history and safety record. The focus of the investigation is now on understanding why the landing gear was not deployed, given that Boeing 737-800 aircraft have a manual deployment option even in the event of hydraulic failure. One theory being considered is the possibility of a bird strike, which may have disabled the plane’s engines and left little time for pilots to react.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation team, which includes Boeing and the FAA, due to the aircraft’s U.S. manufacturing and certification. The overall investigation is being directed by South Korea, per international aviation protocol. The full investigation is expected to be lengthy and complex, as it seeks to understand the circumstances surrounding this unprecedented incident and its tragic conclusion.
