South Korea to Inspect All Boeing 737-800s After Fatal Crash

South Korean authorities announced on Monday that they would carry out safety checks on all Boeing 737-800s planes used by the country’s airlines.

The investigation is part of an effort to determine the exact cause of Sunday’s tragic incident at Muan International Airport, which claimed the lives of 179 people, according to the AP news agency.

South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, led a task force meeting on Monday to carry out an urgent review of the country’s aircraft operation systems. Choi also serves as the deputy prime minister and finance minister.

Choi stated, “The key to a responsible response is overhauling the aviation safety systems entirely to prevent similar incidents in the future and create a safer Republic of South Korea.”

Alan Price, former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines, told AP that the Boeing 737-800 is a “reliable aircraft” and differs from the controversial 737 Max, which was scrutinized after fatal crashes in 2018-2019.

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Transport Ministry to Audit Boeing 737-800s and Review Safety Standards at Jeju Air

The transport ministry will audit all 101 Boeing 737-800s in operation and review safety standards at Jeju Air, according to the AP.

The company, whose aircraft crashed on Sunday, operates 39 Boeing 737-800 series planes.

A ministry official stated that representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing will arrive on Monday to join the investigation.

The ministry will also assess whether the localiser at Muan airport—a concrete fence containing antennas to help guide aircraft during landings—should be constructed with lighter materials that would break upon impact.

Lighter structures are already being used at other domestic airports, including those in Jeju Island and the southern cities of Yeosu and Pohang.

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