South Korea extends Boeing 737-800 inspections after Jeju Air wreckage | Aviation news
After the fatal plane crash, inspections of 101 Boeing planes operated by the country’s airlines were extended until January 10.
Inspections of all 101 Boeing 737-800s operated by the South Korean airline have been extended for another week, the transport ministry said, as authorities began removing the wreckage of the Jeju Air plane after the worst aviation disaster in the country.
Inspections of the Boeing planes were due to be completed on Friday, but have been extended until Jan. 10 for additional checks, such as whether the airlines spent enough time in maintenance and provided parts for repairs, a ministry official told reporters on Friday.
A total of 179 people died on Sunday after Jeju Air Flight 2216 from Thailand to South Korea slipped and fell while trying to land at Muan International Airport southwest of the capital Seoul. Only two people survived the incident.
The exact cause of the accident is still unknown, but investigators have pointed to a bird strike, a malfunctioning landing gear and the installation at the end of the runway where the plane hit as possible problems.
The transport ministry said it would inspect the engines, maintenance records and landing gear on all 737-800 planes, adding that the airline’s operations could be suspended if serious violations were found.
Aircraft engines are produced in a joint venture between General Electric and the French aviation company Safran. GE also joins the checks.
The Jeju Air crash adds to the headaches facing Boeing as the company struggles to restore customer confidence after two fatal crashes of the 737 MAXand mid-air panel blowoutand a seven-week strike.
The Ministry of Transport also held an emergency meeting with the CEOs of 11 airlines, including Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines, to discuss measures to increase air traffic safety.
The South Korean investigation team said on Friday that two of its members will go to the United States next week to analyze the crash flight data log in cooperation with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The team also studies the plane wreckage and interviews airport control tower officials.
On Friday, investigators began lifting the wreckage of the ill-fated plane, including what appeared to be an engine, using a large yellow crane.
Na Won-ho, the investigation chief of the South Jeolla Provincial Police, said at a press conference at Muan International Airport that authorities expect more human remains may be found in the part of the plane being recovered.
“For all that to be over and for us to have results, we have to wait until tomorrow.”
Investigators will also analyze data on 107 cellphones found at the crash site, including text messages, to find out what happened leading up to the crash, Yonhap News said.
Acting President of South Korea Choi Sang-mok on Friday, he urged investigators to work quickly to gather evidence from the crash scene and analyze the tape recorder.
Unanswered questions include why the plane didn’t open the landing gear and what prompted the pilot to rush into a second landing attempt after he told air traffic control the plane had suffered a bird strike and declared an emergency.
