South Korea’s Jeju Air Crash Probe Widens, 7 Officials Face Indictment

South Korean police have sought indictments against seven Transport Ministry officials over alleged falsification of official documents linked to the 2024 Jeju Air crash that killed 179 of the 181 people on board.

The Boeing 737-800 crashed at Muan International Airport in southern South Korea after its landing gear failed to deploy. The aircraft skidded off the runway, struck a concrete structure housing a localizer antenna and burst into flames.

Police said the seven officials were involved in preparing media statements claiming that the airport's localizer structures had been installed in compliance with domestic and international regulations. Investigators determined that the claim was inaccurate. The cases have been referred to prosecutors, with police seeking indictments on charges of falsifying official documents, which can carry a prison sentence of up to seven years.

Authorities are also investigating nearly 70 other people, including individuals involved in the installation of the localizers and the operation of Muan airport. The Transport Ministry declined to comment on the latest police announcement.

Investigators have found evidence of bird strikes in both engines, while the aircraft's two black boxes stopped recording about four minutes before the crash. Experts have also questioned the decision to place the localizer on a rigid concrete structure, arguing that a more breakable design could have reduced the severity of the accident.

The crash was South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster since 1997. However, no final formal cause has been announced and no one has yet been legally prosecuted over the disaster.

An earlier investigation finding that the pilots switched off the less-damaged engine after the bird strike triggered strong protests from bereaved families and fellow pilots, who accused authorities of attempting to shift responsibility onto the deceased crew. The investigation board subsequently canceled its planned announcement of the findings.