The tragic accident at Muan Airport in South Korea on December 29, 2024, involving Jeju Air Flight 7C 2216, has deeply moved the world. This air disaster claimed many lives and the details surrounding this horrific event raise many questions.
The heartbreaking scene of the Jeju Air plane sliding on its belly before bursting into flames on the runway was captured by multiple cameras. The failure to fully deploy the landing gear, which is crucial for a safe landing, raises questions about the circumstances of this tragic accident.
Experts point to a possible failure of the landing gear, particularly the wheels used for takeoff and landing, which did not properly deploy before landing. However, the precise causes of this failure have yet to be determined. With Korean authorities still investigating, speculation about a possible bird strike or bad weather conditions has been high, although images of the crash show clear skies.
Aviation professionals have stressed the need for more factual evidence to definitively establish the cause of the tragic crash. Premature speculation risks hampering the investigation process and compromising the reliability of the findings. Indeed, the statement by the head of the Muan Fire Department that a bird strike or bad weather conditions could have been the cause raises doubts about the reliability of such claims.
The context of this tragedy, with ideal flying conditions and an aircraft and airline known for their safety, adds to the mystery surrounding the accident. Jeju Air’s Boeing 737-800 is widely used around the world and has an excellent safety record. Under these conditions, the issue of the landing gear not deploying or collapsing remains at the center of investigators’ concerns.
The reassuring words of Jeju Air’s CEO, announcing the absence of warning signs of problems on the aircraft before the crash, underline the need for a thorough and impartial investigation to understand the real circumstances of the accident. The Korean authorities have dispatched investigators to the field to look into the factors that led to this tragedy.
As we await the conclusions of the official investigation, the world holds its breath, hoping that light will be shed on the reasons for this air tragedy. In these dark moments, our thoughts go out to the victims of this accident as well as to their loved ones, in the hope that the truth will come out and help prevent such tragedies in the future.
In conclusion, this air accident reminds us of the fragility of life and underlines the crucial importance of air safety. It calls for increased vigilance and rigorous preventive measures to prevent such incidents in the future, in a bid to ensure the safety and security of air travellers.