GE Aerospace, through its joint venture CFM International with Safran, has joined the investigation into the deadly crash of a Boeing 737-800, the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil.
The crash, involving a Jeju Air flight, claimed the lives of 179 people and occurred on Sunday during a flight from Bangkok to Muan, where the plane belly-landed, overshot the runway, and exploded into flames.
In response, South Korea’s transport ministry has extended special inspections of all 101 Boeing 737-800 jets until January 10, 2025. The inspections, initially set to conclude by January 5, will now focus on maintenance records, engine checks, and landing gear, with the possibility of suspending airlines for serious violations.
Investigators are piecing together clues to determine the crash’s cause, with particular attention to the aircraft’s engines, which are manufactured by GE Aerospace and Safran. Early video footage suggested smoke emerging from the plane’s right engine before the crash.
The investigation team, now comprising 23 members, includes Korean investigators, U.S. representatives from Boeing, and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). GE Aerospace has also assigned a representative to assist in the probe.
Though the cause remains unclear, questions are being raised about why the aircraft did not deploy its landing gear and why the pilot attempted a second landing after declaring an emergency.
Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder and are set to analyze it with the NTSB. The transcript from the cockpit voice recorder is expected to be transcribed in the coming days, with decisions regarding its release pending.
This investigation comes at a time when Boeing is already grappling with challenges to its reputation, following previous 737 MAX accidents and other issues.
The ministry also held an emergency meeting with the chief executives of 11 airlines, including top-ranked Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines, to discuss ways to beef up aviation safety.
South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok urged investigators on Friday to work swiftly to collect evidence from the crash scene and analyse data from the cockpit voice recorder.
On Thursday, police said they were searching Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport. They banned the airline’s chief executive, Kim E-bae, and an unidentified official from leaving the country.
Investigators also plan a special inspection of the location and materials of the airport landing system at airports elsewhere in South Korea by Jan. 8, 2025.
Safety experts said the embankment, designed to prop up the navigation system that helps pilots make safe descents, was too rigid and too close to the end of the runway. Investigators will analyse data on 107 mobile phones recovered from the crash site, including text messages, for clues to what happened before the crash, Yonhap News said.
