South Korean authorities confirmed on Wednesday that all 179 victims of the Jeju Air plane crash have been identified. Families of the victims will be allowed to visit the crash site later today to pay their respects.
The investigation into the crash continues, with authorities from South Korea, the United States, and other experts involved. A team from the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, CFM International (the maker of the plane’s engines), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are contributing to the investigation. Some experts are working on-site, while others are assisting remotely. “Additional NTSB investigative staff are standing by to assist if needed, including specialists in recorders, powerplants, and survival factors,” the NTSB stated.
The crash involved a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft. South Korean officials are conducting a thorough investigation into the fleet, which includes 101 of the same model operating across six local airlines. Jeju Air Flight 2216, which had departed from Bangkok, Thailand, issued a distress call shortly before 9 a.m. while attempting to land. The plane then veered off the runway and struck a wall. Authorities confirmed the control tower had warned of a bird strike before the pilot issued the distress signal.
The flight had 175 passengers and six crew members on board. Of those, only two survived—both crew members, a man and a woman. They are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries at separate hospitals in Seoul, according to the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport.
Peoplesmind
