In a dramatic turn of events following the tragic plane crash that shocked the globe, South Korean police have stormed Muan International Airport and the Seoul office of Jeju Air. The raid, which took place mere days after the horrific incident that occurred just after Christmas, resulted in 179 fatalities.
On Thursday, the Jeonanam Provincial Police Agency initiated a search and seizure at the airport situated in South Korea’s southwest, as well as the airline’s headquarters in the capital. The operation also extended to the Muan branch of the Busan Regional Office of Aviation, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
Authorities are on the hunt for evidence of professional negligence leading to death, with police issuing a statement: “In relation to the plane accident that occurred on December 29, a search and seizure operation is being conducted from 9am on January 2 at three locations.”
This latest probe into the devastating crash of the 15 year old Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 last Sunday comes as the country mourns the loss of 179 passengers who perished when the aircraft skidded off the runway and collided with a wall upon landing at Muan Airport. Only two passengers miraculously survived the inferno that ensued.
As South Korea grapples with this national tragedy, the customary New Year celebrations were replaced by sombre reflection, with January 1st observed in silence rather than the typical jubilant countdown.
South Korea’s emergency office has reported that a malfunctioning landing gear could be the cause of the fatal plane crash, which occurred shortly after a bird appeared to strike the plane mid-air. The National Fire Agency confirmed that the death toll includes at least 82 men and 83 women.
Heartbreaking scenes unfolded in the airport’s arrivals hall as the names of some 22 deceased passengers were announced to their waiting families, identified only by their fingerprints. In a miraculous turn of events, two crew members, a man and a woman located in the tail section of the burning plane, were rescued alive from the wreckage.
This crash is one of the deadliest disasters in South Korean aviation history.
Stay tuned for more updates on this breaking news story.