Identification of 141 Victims Confirmed in Muan Jeju Air Disaster... US National Transportation Safety Board Participates in Investigation

In the Jeju Air passenger plane accident at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do, 179 people died, and the identities of 141 have been confirmed.

On the morning of the 30th, firefighters and others are conducting search operations at the site of the Jeju Air passenger plane collision and explosion accident at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the morning of the 30th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held consecutive briefings for the families of the passengers and the press at the Muan Airport terminal, announcing, "As of 9:30 a.m., the identities of 141 people have been confirmed." The remaining 38 are being identified through DNA analysis and fingerprint collection.

The accident response authorities, including the Ministry of Land, said, "All remains of the 179 deceased have been gathered at a temporary mortuary," and added, "Once the investigation agencies complete the autopsies and preparations for handing over the bodies are finished, we will contact the families again."

Among the 181 passengers on the Jeju Air flight involved in the accident the previous day, only two crew members survived. Authorities have been continuing the identification of the deceased and the recovery of remains throughout the night. The recovered remains have been temporarily placed in hangars at Muan Airport, and freezing facilities have been arranged for preservation. Six additional freezers will be installed by 2 p.m. today, increasing the total to 11 units to expand capacity.

At the Muan Airport runway site, the collection of personal belongings is also underway, and the site will be preserved for the time being for the investigation into the cause of the accident by the Ministry of Land and other authorities. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is participating in the accident investigation, and the Ministry of Land reported that Boeing (the manufacturer) and CFMI (the engine manufacturer) are in discussions about participation. Additionally, on this day, air traffic control communication data will be reviewed, and interviews and situation checks with related air traffic controllers will be conducted.

Memorial altars to honor the victims will be set up in at least one location in each of the 17 cities and provinces nationwide and will begin operation from today. The operation period of the memorial altars is until the 4th of next month, which the government has designated as the national mourning period.

Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land on the Muan Airport runway around 9:03 a.m. the previous day with the landing gear (airplane wheels) not deployed. The plane collided with the outer wall, broke apart, and caught fire. The aircraft involved was a B737-800, carrying 175 passengers and 6 crew members, totaling 181 people, of whom 179 died at the scene.

The Ministry of Land stated, "We will do our utmost to support the bereaved families, including briefing on the accident response situation, meeting with representatives of the bereaved families, confirming the identity of each deceased and notifying their families, guiding funeral procedures, and providing emergency supplies."