The government announced on the 31st that it will conduct a special safety inspection of airlines operating the same model aircraft (B737-800) as the Jeju Air incident aircraft, focusing on maintenance history and operation and maintenance records, until Jan. 3 next year.
Choi Sang-mok, acting president and deputy prime minister for economy and Minister of Strategy and Finance, urged during the fifth meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, held at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, at 8 a.m. that day, saying, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should thoroughly re-examine the overall aircraft operation system with this inspection and immediately improve necessary areas.”
The inspection targets are six companies, including Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'way Air, Eastar Jet, Korean Air, and Air Incheon. These airlines have a total of 101 B737-800 aircraft. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is conducting a full inspection of the maintenance history and operation and maintenance records of the B737-800, and a special safety inspection of the aircraft operation system, including pilot education and training status and abnormal situation reporting systems.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated, “The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and aircraft manufacturer Boeing have participated in the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board and have begun an investigation into the cause, and the progress of the investigation will be transparently disclosed to the public.”
Acting President Choi expressed, “We will do our best for the support of the bereaved families and the determination of the cause of the accident,” and added, “We will provide maximum support as if it were a matter of our own family to ensure that the funeral procedures align with the wishes of the bereaved families.”
Continuing, it was noted, “The government is actively supporting the psychological stability of the bereaved families by deploying professional counseling personnel on site,” adding, “The Ministry of Health and Welfare and related agencies should do their utmost to provide timely support to those in need.”
Additionally, Acting President Choi urged, “Field officials should first approach the bereaved families to ask if there are any difficulties and enhance communication,” and requested, “Ministers and local government heads should personally ensure that communication is properly maintained between support agencies on site and between the bereaved families and the government.”
Acting President Choi also remarked regarding the ship capsizing accident that occurred the previous day off the coast of Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, “The Korea Coast Guard and related agencies must make every effort to search for the missing persons.”