Families of Jeju Air Crash Victims Take Legal Action Against Airline Executives

Survivors' families seek justice following the deadly Jeju Air crash, filing a criminal complaint against airline and government officials.

Families of the victims from the Jeju Air plane crash in December have officially filed a criminal complaint against 15 individuals, including South Korea's transport minister and the airline's CEO, citing professional negligence. A total of 72 bereaved relatives have come together to demand a thorough investigation into the crash that resulted in the deaths of 179 out of 181 passengers, marking it as the worst aviation tragedy in South Korean history.

The relatives assert that the incident was "not a simple accident" but rather a "major civic disaster" resulting from negligence in managing preventable risks. As investigations have continued for nearly five months, families are frustrated by what they view as insufficient progress. Notably, police have already initiated a criminal inquiry and restricted the Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae from leaving the country; however, no individuals have been formally indicted.

Kim Da-hye, a family member, voiced their feelings of "anger and despair" at the slow pace of the investigation. "Having taken this extraordinary measure of filing a criminal complaint, we will not give up and will continue to pursue the truth," she stated. Among the accused are officials involved in air traffic control, airline management, and infrastructure oversight at Muan International Airport.

The Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air took off from Bangkok and, shortly before landing, reported a bird strike leading to a mayday. In an attempt to safely land the aircraft, it belly-landed without deploying landing gear and subsequently crashed into a concrete structure, igniting a fire upon impact. Investigations have confirmed the presence of bird feathers found in the engines, although a definitive conclusion regarding its impact on the crash's cause has yet to be drawn.

Concerningly, some family members have reported being subjected to online harassment and conspiracy theories suggesting they are insincere. As of March, authorities have detained eight individuals for inappropriate and derogatory online conduct aimed at the victims' families.