An investigation into last December’s Jeju Air plane crash has found that the aircraft’s pilot mistakenly shut the wrong engine, local media reported. The release of the report has been delayed after heated protests from families of the victims, who accuse investigators of pinning the blame on the pilot while ignoring other contributing factors.
The crash occurred on December 29, when Jeju Air Flight 2216 reported a bird strike and made a mayday call as the plane approached the runway. The pilots then tried to land from the opposite direction, but the plane made a belly landing and skidded into a concrete barrier, bursting into flames. All but two of the 181 people on board died in the accident, making it the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil.
According to the investigation findings, the pilot had turned off the left engine, which had no defects, instead of the right engine, which was more severely damaged by the bird strike. However, families of the victims argue that the report did not mention the concrete barrier at the end of the runway, which they believe made the accident so devastating.
“The bereaved families seek a fair and transparent investigation into the accident,” they said in a statement, urging investigators to conduct a press briefing “only after a full and careful examination has been completed”. The Jeju Air pilots’ union also criticized the findings, saying that they focused too much on pilots’ misjudgment while downplaying other contributing factors.
A source with knowledge of the probe told Reuters that investigators would not change their findings, as they had “clear evidence and backup data”. Following the crash, South Korea’s transport ministry said it would remove concrete barriers at seven airports. Families of the victims have lodged a criminal complaint against Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae, citing professional negligence. Mr. Kim is among 24 people being investigated by the police over their role in the accident.
The crash has raised concerns about aviation safety and the need for more stringent measures to prevent such accidents in the future. As the investigation continues, families of the victims and aviation experts will be watching closely to see if the findings are thorough and transparent.