South Korea - December 30, 2024 Storyline: Investigators in South Korea are expediting efforts to identify the victims of the fatal Jeju Air plane crash accident as authorities examine potential causes, including a bird strike and runway safety concerns. South Korean police have committed to speeding up the identification process for the victims of the plane crash, which claimed 179 lives after the aircraft burst into flames following a failed landing attempt at Muan International Airport in southwestern South Korea on Sunday morning. The airport will remain closed until January 7 as authorities continue to probe the cause of the tragedy. According to reports, the Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 experienced a bird strike shortly before attempting to land. South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport confirmed that the pilots declared an emergency and signaled their intention to abort the landing. Kang Jung-hyun, a senior official from the ministry, shared that the control tower had warned the pilot about bird activity moments before the emergency was declared. The pilot reportedly issued a "Mayday" distress call, noting both a bird strike and the decision to go around. Despite the warnings and emergency procedures, the plane belly-landed and skidded off the runway into a concrete embankment, igniting a fire. Aviation experts have raised concerns about the design of the runway's end, questioning why a concrete wall was present rather than safety systems intended to stop overrunning planes. Investigators are currently focused on retrieving information from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, both of which were damaged in the crash. Authorities have cautioned that identifying the victims, many of whom suffered severe injuries, could take several days. Families of the victims have been vocal in their demands for answers and additional support, with Park Han-shin, a representative for the families, revealing the harrowing reality of the recovery process. He noted that the remains of the victims are so badly damaged that they must be pieced together, and called for more medical personnel and resources to be deployed to assist with the identification efforts. In response to the tragedy, South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an emergency inspection of all airlines, starting with the 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft currently operated by South Korean carriers. Yoo Kyeong-soo, head of the Aviation Safety Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, confirmed that a special inspection of the Boeing 737-800s would be conducted, focusing on maintenance management systems to prevent future accidents. As investigators work to determine if mechanical failure or pilot error contributed to the crash, the grieving families are left waiting for closure while authorities race to uncover the full truth behind the devastating incident. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]