Airline says pre-flight inspection of South Korea plane showed ‘no issues’: report

U.S. investigators, along with representatives from the aircraft’s manufacturer, are currently combing through the site of Sunday’s tragic plane crash involving South Korean budget airline Jeju Air. The crash of the Boeing 737-800 resulted in the loss of all but two of the 181 people on board, marking it as South Korea’s deadliest plane crash in recent history.

Investigators are diligently collecting evidence from the crash site in hopes of determining why the pilot decided to attempt a landing after declaring an emergency. According to the BBC, a pre-flight inspection revealed no issues with the aircraft. Flight data, including speed, altitude, fuel levels, and cockpit voice recordings from the plane’s black boxes, will be crucial in piecing together the sequence of events leading up to the crash.

One point of concern raised by air safety experts is the placement of an airport embankment that the passenger jet collided with after skidding past the end of the runway. Video footage of the crash scene has sparked questions about the proximity of the embankment to the runway, with the airport’s operating manual highlighting the need for a review of equipment placement during a planned expansion.

The South Korean government has initiated safety inspections on all 101 Boeing 737-800s in the country, focusing on maintenance and operation records during a five-day safety check. A delegation of U.S. investigators, including representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and Boeing, visited the crash site to conduct a thorough examination.

While the exact cause of the crash may take months to determine, various possibilities are being explored, including the potential for a bird strike. Aviation consultant Mike Boyd emphasized the need to understand why the aircraft came in at a high speed and altitude, despite the ample runway length available.

As the investigation progresses, the entire aviation community is mourning the lives lost in this tragic incident. The ultimate goal is to uncover the underlying factors that led to the crash and implement necessary measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.