Families of South Korean Plane Crash Victims Demand Investigation into Tragedy

At Muan International Airport, families of those who died in the December 29 plane crash are taking action to explore the causes of the tragedy after feeling left in the dark by officials.

At Muan International Airport, the terminal has transformed from a bustling travel hub into a poignant gathering place for families mourning the loss of their loved ones in South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster. After the Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crash that occurred on December 29, which claimed the lives of 179 passengers, relatives have come together to seek answers and support one another in their grief.

Still reeling from the catastrophic event, many families have set up makeshift camps within the airport grounds, where they stay in tents, sharing meals and stories as they process their sorrow. Their shared experience has forged a bond among them, leading one grieving father, Son Joo-taek, to observe, “We’re a family now. The people here understand what others just can’t.”

With frustration mounting over the sparse information provided by authorities, the families are now refocusing their energies on uncovering the truth behind the tragic crash. Eyewitness reports detail how the plane, carrying mostly holidaymakers returning from Thailand, crashed on landing, ultimately colliding with a concrete barrier that resulted in an explosion. Among the dead, only two individuals survived the calamity.

Relatives are particularly dissatisfied with the authorities’ hesitance to disclose key evidence, such as transcripts from air traffic control during the event, and are questioning the circumstances surrounding the crash, including unconfirmed claims of a bird strike that occurred just before landing. They express deep concerns about multiple factors, including the lack of landing gear on the aircraft and the inadequate design of the berm it hit.

In a quest for answers, many family members are taking the initiative to educate themselves on aviation safety, poring through resources like books and videos that delve into the mechanics of flight, the role of air traffic controllers, and airport design protocols. Their determination highlights a growing sense of urgency to ensure that such a tragedy does not occur again and to hold the appropriate parties accountable for their loss.