South Korean police raided the offices of both the airline and airport operator at the center of a plane crash that killed 179 people on Sunday, Dec. 29. All but two of the 181 passengers and crew aboard Jeju Air flight 2216, landing at Muan International Airport, died in the crash.
The raids are part of South Korean authorities’ efforts to figure out the cause of the crash, which occurred when the plane made an abrupt belly landing, skidded off the runway and crashed into a barrier.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
The investigation will reportedly focus on the last few minutes of the flight, including multiple landing attempts and mayday alerts after a bird strike. Police have also banned the airline’s chief executive from leaving the country while the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, authorities will also investigate the landing gear of all Boeing 737-800 planes operated in South Korea. The mid-sized model is one of the most common planes in the world.
In the U.S., it’s the most common plane in the American Airlines fleet. It is frequently flown by other top U.S. airlines, including United, Delta and Southwest.
On Tuesday, Dec. 31, police began releasing bodies of victims to their families.
