South Korea Police Raid Transport Ministry as Jeju Air Crash Probe Intensifies

South Korean authorities have raided the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport headquarters amid growing public outrage over the handling of the Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash, the country’s deadliest aviation disaster.

The Boeing 737-800 overshot the runway at Muan International Airport on 29 December 2024, killing 179 of 181 people on board. Initial investigations pointed to a bird strike, but a concrete mound at the runway significantly worsened the casualties.

Discovery of Remains Sparks Police Action

The raid in the central city of Sejong comes after investigators found additional body parts and victims’ belongings stored alongside rubble removed from the accident site. Families of the victims had long demanded a re-examination of the debris, citing concerns that critical evidence had been overlooked.

Following the discovery, President Lee Jae-myung ordered a new inquiry into the crash, including whether ministry officials handled the recovery and investigation properly, and called for disciplinary action against those responsible for delays in processing human remains.

A spokesperson representing the families criticized the ministry’s earlier apology, saying it was “like killing the victims a second time.”

Cost-Cutting Measures Under Scrutiny

Parallel investigations, including a review by the Board of Audit, found that the runway’s concrete mound was built as a cost-saving measure. Muan Airport was constructed on sloping terrain, and instead of leveling the ground for navigation antenna systems, authorities built the system into an elevated concrete structure.

Simulations suggest that all 181 passengers could have survived if the aircraft had not collided with the mound. After a flock of migratory ducks struck the plane’s engine, pilots attempted an emergency landing on the runway, sliding the plane on its belly before it struck the concrete structure, causing a massive fireball.

The ongoing investigation, directed by the president, is expected to release findings by mid-2026, with multiple agencies and the South Korean parliament also conducting reviews.