The complaint highlights negligence and calls for a deeper investigation into a tragic incident that claimed 179 lives in December.
Families of Jeju Air Crash Victims Demand Accountability from Officials
Families of Jeju Air Crash Victims Demand Accountability from Officials
Seventy-two bereaved families seek justice following South Korea's deadliest plane crash by filing criminal complaints against airline and government officials.
Families of the victims of the tragic Jeju Air plane crash last December have taken legal action, filing a criminal complaint against 15 individuals, including the CEO of Jeju Air and South Korea's transport minister. The complaint arises from the crash at Muan International Airport that resulted in the deaths of 179 out of 181 passengers, marking it the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea's history.
The grieving families have accused the parties involved of professional negligence, asserting that the crash was not merely an unfortunate accident, but a preventable civic disaster due to severe management failures. Nearly five months after the incident, officials are still investigating the causes behind the crash, which involved the aircraft belly-landing without its landing gear and subsequently igniting in flames.
Expressing their struggles with the ongoing investigation, family member Kim Da-hye lamented the slow progress and voiced their commitment to uncovering the truth, stating, “We are filled with deep anger and despair.” Previously, a criminal investigation had already been initiated, with authorities preventing Jeju Air's CEO Kim E-bae from leaving the country although no indictments have been made yet.
Among those named in the complaint are various government officials, airline personnel, and airport staff involved in construction and facility management aspects. The families are raising serious concerns regarding whether proper procedures were followed during the incident and are questioning air traffic control’s response to a reported bird strike five minutes prior to landing.
After takeoff from Bangkok, the Boeing 737-800 operation encountered issues upon reaching Muan International Airport, declaring a mayday alert. Investigators confirmed the discovery of bird feathers in the engine but have not determined the degree to which this incident led to the crash.
In the aftermath, some relatives of the victims have faced troubling online backlash, including conspiracies and cruel jokes about their circumstances. Authorities have made arrests in connection with these defamatory remarks, underscoring the added distress the families have endured since the tragedy unfolded.
