[Weekly File] Bodies and Belongings Returned to Families... When Will the Cause Be Identified?

Jeju Air Passenger Plane Disaster
First Recovery of Tail Section... Analysis of Voice and Flight Recorders
Police Expand Investigation into Defamation and Insult of Bereaved Families
Urgent Measures Needed as Indefinite Closure Extended

On the morning of the 3rd, a fire official is photographing debris at the Jeju Air passenger plane accident site at Muan International Airport in Muan County, Jeonnam. Photo by Yonhap News

On the sixth day since the Jeju Air disaster that claimed 179 lives, the recovered bodies and personal belongings are being returned to their families as of the 3rd. The recovery authorities have begun a full-scale search of the aircraft's tail section, while also analyzing data from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to clearly determine the cause of the accident.

Muan International Airport, which is facing its biggest crisis in 17 years since opening in 2007, is now under scrutiny for regulatory violations and other issues related to the disaster, prompting calls for countermeasures from relevant authorities.

◇ Farewells to the Victims Amid Mourning... Personal Belongings Also Returned to Families

According to recovery authorities, as of this morning, 44 out of 179 victims have been handed over to their families. Of the 42 victims currently resting at funeral homes, funerals for 20 are underway. Authorities expect DNA results for an additional 24 victims to be available within the day.

At the funeral of victim A held at a funeral home in Gwangju this morning, the family bid a tearful farewell. Previously, four victims had already had their funerals. Today, funerals are being held for seven victims: three in Gwangju and four in Jeonnam. Victims returned to families by region are: 14 in Jeonnam, 23 in Gwangju, and five in other regions such as Jeonbuk and Gyeonggi. Some families who have received the bodies are proceeding with funeral arrangements. Others are waiting at the funeral home with the recovered victims, awaiting the return of other family members or acquaintances who were also involved in the accident.

As of this morning, more than 200 items (belonging to 102 individuals) have also been returned to families. Authorities have secured over 1,000 items and are continuing to recover remains, but the more damaged the items or remains, the longer the return process takes. Some electronic devices, such as mobile phones whose owners are difficult to identify, will undergo digital forensic analysis with the consent of the families. There is particular interest in whether forensic analysis might yield information about the moments just before the accident, as some testify that messages were sent to family members right before the crash.

Cho Byungno, Director of Life Safety at Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency (Senior Superintendent), stated at a family briefing this morning, "Due to damage from the fire and the firefighting process, almost nothing remains intact," adding, "Unidentified belongings are being managed in a cargo storage area and have all been registered in the National Police Agency's lost property management system (LOST112). Given the severe damage, we will carefully discuss with family representatives whether to make items public."

◇ First Search and Recovery of Aircraft Tail Section

On the sixth day after the disaster, the first search and recovery operation of the aircraft's tail section is underway. Recovery authorities are using a crane to lift the tail section of the crashed aircraft for recovery. Until now, search and recovery efforts for victims have been conducted among scattered aircraft debris and in the nearby reed fields. As this is the first search of the tail section, authorities expect to recover a significant number of victims' remains.

A Jeonnam police official said, "With the search of the tail section, 99% of the search will be complete," and asked for understanding that DNA verification of recovered remains will take considerable time.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board also announced at Muan Airport today, "According to domestic law, the disaster investigation consists of 12 stages, and we are currently at stage 4," adding, "We are conducting on-site investigations to collect basic information necessary for identifying the cause."

The investigation board formed a joint Korea-US investigation team on December 31 last year, organized specialized groups by field, and established a temporary headquarters at Muan International Airport. The team consists of 12 Korean and 10 American investigators, totaling 22 members. They plan to use transcripts made from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data as key materials for determining the cause of the accident. However, since the damaged flight data recorder (FDR) cannot be analyzed domestically, it will be sent to the US for joint analysis with American accident investigators.

◇ Police Expand Investigation into Defamation and Insults

As of 8 p.m. the previous day, Jeonnam police had applied for search and seizure warrants for six online posts, with three warrants granted and compulsory investigations underway. Nationwide, there are reportedly 64 cases under preliminary investigation for defamation, insults, and related posts.

On the 2nd, the National Police Agency established a "Jeju Air Passenger Plane Accident Malicious Posts Task Force" in the cyber investigation units of all provincial police agencies, led by the director of the National Investigation Headquarters. The dedicated task force, which had 25 members at Jeonnam Provincial Police, has been expanded to 118 members and now operates nationwide.

◇ Search and Seizure at Muan International Airport Completed

The Jeonnam Police Agency's Jeju Air passenger plane accident investigation headquarters completed search and seizure operations at Muan Airport offices and other locations this morning. The search, which began at 9 a.m. the previous day, lasted 26 hours to secure materials related to aircraft operations. About 30 investigators participated, and the scope included the Busan Regional Aviation Administration's Muan branch office and Jeju Air's Seoul office.

Police are investigating the suitability of runway structures (localizer) that the crashed aircraft collided with, the exchange between the control tower and pilots regarding bird strike warnings and mayday signals before the accident, and the aircraft's maintenance history. They have also secured CCTV footage from near the runway showing the aircraft's movements and situation before the accident, as well as records related to aircraft operation, maintenance, and facilities.

Police explained that the time required is due to physical duplication and copying of videos and documents, not difficulties in executing the search warrants. The search and seizure warrants were issued on charges of occupational negligence resulting in death or injury in connection with the disaster. So far, no one has been booked as a suspect under these charges. However, two key figures, including Jeju Air CEO Kim Ibae, have been banned from leaving the country as important witnesses.

◇ Support and Donations for Victims Continue

Starting with donations of 200 million won from North Gyeongsang Province and 30 million won from North Jeolla Province on the 31st of last month, Gyeonggi Province donated 500 million won on the 1st, and South Gyeongsang Province donated 200 million won to the Jeonnam Community Chest of Korea on the 2nd. So far, local government donations have reached 930 million won. In the private sector, donations have also continued, with HD Hyundai Samho donating 300 million won and KEPCO KPS donating 150 million won, totaling 510 million won as of today.

Since the day of the accident, more than 2,000 volunteers from associations and organizations such as the Gwangju-Jeonnam Volunteer Center, Korea Christian Federation Volunteer Corps, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Korean Red Cross, Bareuge Salgi Movement, and Volunteer Fire Brigade have been providing meals and various tailored volunteer services at the site.

From the 30th of last month until today, it was confirmed that payments totaling 13 million won were made in advance at a coffee shop on the second floor of Muan International Airport. A sign at the kiosk and counter reads, "We provide Americano and cafe latte to volunteers and bereaved families."

◇ How Long Will Muan Airport Remain Closed?

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is reviewing plans to extend the closure of Muan Airport's runway for another week until the morning of the 7th and possibly further. The original closure deadline was 5 a.m. on the 1st.

The extension is due to the fact that aircraft wreckage recovery is not yet complete and the localizer, an essential facility for aircraft landing, was completely destroyed in the accident. The localizer is a facility that sends radio signals to guide aircraft for accurate runway landings. The accident occurred when the aircraft struck an embankment with a localizer installed about 251 meters from the end of the runway. According to the Ministry, the facility cannot be immediately reinstalled and must be reconstructed through a new order, which could take at least several months.

With the closure likely to be extended indefinitely, passenger service companies dedicated to airline operations at Muan International Airport are reportedly considering withdrawing from business due to management difficulties. There are two passenger service companies and one ground handling company at the airport, all responsible for passenger operations. These companies are contractors handling check-in, baggage delivery, and other airline passenger services.

If these companies withdraw, the employment of about 70 staff could be at risk. There are also concerns that if they leave, the administrative efforts and budget invested by Jeonnam Province to revitalize Muan International Airport could be wasted.