South Korean authorities have started releasing the bodies of victims from the recent Jeju Air plane crash to their families.
The crash, which occurred on December 29, 2024, resulted in the deaths of 179 people.
The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 181 passengers from Thailand to South Korea when it made a mayday call and crash-landed, bursting into flames.
Investigators, including U.S. experts from Boeing, are working to determine the cause of the crash. The two black boxes retrieved from the wreckage are being assessed to provide more insights into the incident. South Korea is observing seven days of mourning, with flags flying at half-mast.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has called for a thorough reexamination of the country’s air safety systems and immediate improvements where necessary.
The first bodies have been handed over to their families, with 28 victims identified and autopsies completed. The process of identifying all victims continues, and officials are working to expedite the release of the remaining bodies.
Mourners have been paying their respects at a memorial altar set up at Muan Sports Park, near the crash site. The tragedy has prompted calls for a full overhaul of air safety systems in South Korea.
Meanwhile, another Jeju Air flight from Seoul on Monday was forced to return after encountering a landing gear problem, just a day after South Korea’s most deadly plane crash.
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