South Korea Launches Independent Inquiry into Deadly Jeju Air Crash amid Allegations of Cover-Up
South Korea's parliament has initiated an independent inquiry into the Jeju Air crash, the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil. The crash occurred on 29 December 2024 at Muan International Airport, when a bird strike caused the plane to belly-land before it hit a concrete embankment and exploded, resulting in the deaths of 179 of the 181 onboard. Only two people survived.
The parliamentary inquiry will be conducted by an 18-member committee over 40 days, with the possibility of extension. The investigation will focus on the management of bird strikes, potential aircraft defects, the presence of the concrete embankment, and allegations that the government attempted to downplay or cover up findings. The committee has the authority to summon officials and request documents as part of its process.
The inquiry was approved overwhelmingly in parliament, with 245 votes in favor and one against. This development follows the government's earlier cancellation of planned hearings in the face of anger from victims' families. Families have expressed concerns about structural conflicts of interest, noting that Araib, which leads the official investigation, reports to the transport ministry—the same ministry responsible for airport safety and the embankment—raising questions about the investigation's independence.
Police are currently investigating multiple current and former officials from the transport ministry. Public hearings originally scheduled for 4-5 December were postponed by Araib. If a final report is not ready, an interim statement is due by 29 December.
The controversy surrounding the inquiry highlights broader distrust in South Korea over the handling of major disasters, recalling previous incidents such as the Itaewon tragedy in 2022 and the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014.
