South Korean Police Raid Ministry Headquarters Amid Fatal Air Crash Investigation

Seoul. South Korean police have raided the headquarters of the country's Ministry of Transport as the investigation into the deadliest air crash in South Korea intensifies.

Jeju Air Flight Number 2216 crashed after hitting a cement wall on the runway of Muan International Airport on December 29, 2024. Only two people survived out of the 181 on board the aircraft in this accident.

The two survivors were flight attendants and one passenger seated in the tail section of the plane. According to South Korean police, the office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport was raided on Friday following the incident.

Initial investigations suggested a possibility of the aircraft colliding with a bird. Furthermore, it was reported that the concrete debris structure near the runway exacerbated the damage from the crash. The controversy has escalated after investigators found additional human remains and personal belongings of the victims within the pile of wreckage removed from the crash site. Victim families have long demanded a re-examination of the debris.

Following this incident, South Korean President Lee Ye-myung ordered further investigation on Thursday. He also directed disciplinary action against officials responsible for the delay in collecting human remains. Although the ministry apologized on behalf of the government, the victim families have not accepted it.

Family representatives commented that the ministry's delayed and inadequate apology was like killing the victims a second time. The results of the investigation into the accident are expected to be made public by the middle of this year. Additionally, Parliament and other bodies are also proceeding with separate investigations.