Police raid Muan airport in probe of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster

Police have raided Muan International Airport, Jeju Air's Seoul office, and other key locations as part of an intensified investigation into the recent Jeju Air crash that claimed 179 lives.

The December 29 tragedy, involving a passenger jet from Bangkok, has been described as the deadliest aviation accident in South Korea's history, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

The Jeonnam Provincial Police executed search and seizure operations on Tuesday, focusing on evidence to determine the causes and accountability for the catastrophic crash. The raids extended to the Muan office of the Busan Regional Office of Aviation. Officials confirmed that the search warrant was issued on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.

Authorities are examining the airport's localizer system, a critical navigation aid housed in a concrete structure near the runway. Police are also scrutinising communication records between the airport control tower and the pilot in the moments leading up to the crash.

The control tower had reportedly issued a bird strike warning shortly before the pilot declared a mayday and attempted an emergency landing. The plane's landing gear was not deployed during the attempt, leading to a collision with a concrete wall, followed by a massive explosion.

Investigators aim to determine whether the localizer system was functioning correctly and whether control tower actions contributed to the crash. The search also seeks to clarify the decision-making processes of the pilot and air traffic controllers during the emergency.

As the investigation continues, efforts to provide closure for the victims' families are underway. Authorities have identified all 179 victims and are matching body parts through DNA analysis. Meanwhile, nearly 158,000 people have visited memorial altars across the nation to mourn the victims of the tragedy.

The Flight Data Recorder, retrieved from the wreckage, is set to be analysed in the United States due to extensive damage. Police investigations, alongside the land ministry’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, are expected to uncover further details surrounding the disaster.

By Vugar Khalilov