Police investigating the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster at Muan International Airport on Dec. 29, 2024, have extended the operating period of the special investigation team.
The Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI) Special Investigation Team on the 12/29 passenger plane disaster said on the 1st, "Considering consultations with prosecutors and the progress of the investigation, we additionally extended the operating period."
The special investigation team had previously extended its operation once to May 31 and, this time, decided to continue the probe without setting a separate deadline.
Director General of the special investigation team will be Han Dong-hoon, who previously led the investigation team. The team was reorganized from 47 members to about 20. It is known that the decision reflects the progress made so far and the burden of personnel transfers.
At about 9:03 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2024, Jeju Air flight 7C 2216, which had departed Bangkok, Thailand, attempted a belly landing at Muan International Airport and struck a localizer (azimuth facility) built on a concrete berm. The passenger plane exploded, killing 179 of the 181 people on board.