Bereaved Families Claim "Incomplete Findings Cause Secondary Harm"
On the afternoon of the 19th at Muan Airport in Jeollanam-do, Kim Yujin, the representative of the Muan Airport Jeju Air Passenger Plane Disaster Bereaved Families Association, spoke about their position after the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board's on-site briefing on the detailed engine investigation results of the December 29 passenger plane disaster was canceled. Photo by Min Chanki
The press briefing on the investigation results regarding the engine defect in the Muan Airport Jeju Air passenger plane disaster, which resulted in 181 casualties, was canceled due to opposition from the bereaved families. The families condemned the move, stating, "Announcing incomplete findings as if they are the final results while the investigation is still ongoing constitutes secondary harm to the victims."
The on-site briefing by the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board on the detailed engine investigation results of the December 29 passenger plane disaster, which was scheduled to take place on the afternoon of the 19th at Muan Airport in Jeollanam-do, was canceled due to opposition from the bereaved families of the Muan Airport Jeju Air passenger plane disaster.
Prior to the press briefing, the Investigation Board held a general meeting with the bereaved families of the Muan Airport Jeju Air passenger plane disaster to explain the results of the detailed engine investigation.
After the meeting, the families requested the cancellation of the press briefing, stating, "We oppose disclosing incomplete investigations to the media as if they are the final results."
One family member emphasized, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is preparing a briefing that defines the cause of the disaster solely as a bird strike and pilot error. Even if there was a mistake, there has been no overall conclusion regarding the lack of safeguards to prevent such mistakes."
Kim Yujin, the representative of the Muan Airport Jeju Air Passenger Plane Disaster Bereaved Families Association, pointed out, "I suspect the Investigation Board only intended to disclose selective information. In order for the families to accept the results, the causes and grounds for the findings must be explained. However, when asked why these results were reached, the only response we received was that they could not be disclosed."
She continued, "The Investigation Board is keeping the investigation process confidential, citing the need to maintain the independence of the investigation, and is issuing one-sided results. The mound within Muan Airport has been identified as a factor that exacerbated the damage of the disaster, and although safety recommendations can be made during the investigation if necessary, six mounds still remain at domestic airports."
A legal representative for the families also stated, "They claimed there were no issues with the detailed engine investigation results, but did not disclose any supporting evidence. The investigation results shifted responsibility onto the birds and the deceased pilot. If such results are to be announced, a thorough investigation is necessary, but that was not the case. Even when families asked questions about the accident, the only repeated answer was that the investigation is still ongoing, further undermining trust."
An official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated, "We plan to resume the press briefing after supplementing the investigation findings," adding, "No specific schedule has been set yet."
Meanwhile, in January, the Investigation Board announced preliminary findings stating that "the aircraft overran the runway and collided with a directional facility after a belly landing." The Investigation Board has been conducting a detailed investigation since the accident occurred in December of last year.
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