Police investigating the Dec. 29 Jeju Air passenger plane disaster summoned Kim I-bae, CEO of Jeju Air, as a witness.

Kim Yi-bae, the head of Jeju Air, attends the full committee meeting of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee held in Yeouido, Seoul on Jan. 14, answering questions related to the 12·29 aircraft disaster. /Courtesy of News1

The Jeonnam Police Agency's criminal investigation unit reported on the 17th that they had summoned CEO Kim as a key witness for questioning on the 14th.

Police conducted about three hours of questioning with CEO Kim. They focused on the operation and safety management of the accident aircraft, and it is reported that CEO Kim stated that there were no issues with the safety and maintenance of the accident aircraft.

Police are reportedly reviewing whether to lift the travel ban on CEO Kim, which is set to expire on the 27th.

To identify the cause of the disaster and those responsible, police have summoned relevant individuals for questioning, including the airline, airport, control tower, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and its affiliated agencies. They are particularly investigating the concrete embankment facility (localizer) near the end of the runway where the accident aircraft collided.

Earlier, on Dec. 29 of last year, a Jeju Air passenger aircraft from Bangkok, Thailand, exploded after colliding with an outer wall while landing on the runway at Jeonnam Muan International Airport. Of the 181 passengers on board, 179 lost their lives.

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