South Korea Launches Independent Probe into Jeju Air 737 Crash After Cover-Up Claims

South Korea’s parliament has passed a bill to launch an independent probe into the deadly Jeju Air plane crash. The December 2024 disaster at Muan International Airport killed 179 people. This makes it the deadliest air disaster ever on South Korean soil.

The move comes amid public pressure and concerns over the government’s initial inquiry. A panel of 18 members of parliament will lead the new investigation. This inquiry will look into the crash's possible causes and the official response.

The December 2024 Accident

The accident involved a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The jet was operating Flight 2216 from Bangkok, Thailand. The crew reported a bird strike while on approach to Muan.

The aircraft made a belly-landing without its landing gear deployed. It overshot the runway at high speed. The jet then slammed into a concrete embankment. This structure supported Instrument Landing System (ILS) equipment. The impact caused a massive fire, killing all but two of the 181 people aboard.

Key Investigation Findings and Controversy

The government-led Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) has not yet released its final report. An interim report in January 2025 confirmed bird strikes had damaged both engines.

However, an update seen by Reuters in July 2025 introduced a new focus. It suggested the flight crew may have mistakenly shut down the left engine. This engine had sustained less damage than the right. The left engine could have potentially kept the aircraft flying.

This preliminary assessment, which pointed toward pilot error, sparked outrage. Families of the victims protested the findings. They argued the investigation was prematurely blaming the pilots.

Parliamentary Inquiry Mandate

The new independent probe will investigate several critical factors. It will examine the response to the bird strike and any potential mechanical failures. A major focus is the runway end embankment structure.

Crucially, the inquiry will also investigate the ARAIB and other government agencies. It will determine if there was any attempt to cover up or downplay evidence. This includes information found during the official investigation.

Aviation Safety and Runway Standards

Experts have raised serious questions about the embankment's design. The structure was found to be not in line with global safety standards.

International standards, set by the ICAO, call for a clear Runway End Safety Area (RESA). This area is designed to reduce damage in case of an overrun. ICAO Annex 14 requires a RESA of at least 90 meters. It recommends a length of 240 meters.

• The RESA must be clear of all but frangible objects.
• Frangible objects are designed to break easily upon impact.
• The concrete-reinforced berm at Muan was a non-frangible obstruction.

This structural issue may have significantly worsened the crash outcome. The parliamentary probe will assess if the Korea Airports Corporation or the transport ministry failed to comply with international RESA standards. This is a major point of concern for commercial aviation news and safety regulators worldwide.

Most air accidents result from multiple factors. Aviation experts caution against focusing on incomplete evidence. However, the new probe aims to provide a transparent and authoritative final accounting. This is essential for restoring public trust in South Korea’s aviation safety oversight. The final ARAIB report is currently expected in June 2026.