Victims' families criticise report blaming pilot error for Jeju Air crash

The families of the victims of the Jeju Air crash in South Korea are criticizing a recent report that blames the accident mainly on pilot error. According to the investigation, the pilot of Jeju Air Flight 2216 mistakenly shut off the wrong engine after a bird strike, which led to the crash. However, the families argue that the report ignores other important factors, especially the presence of a concrete barrier at the end of the runway, which they believe made the crash much more deadly. The crash happened in December at Muan International Airport. The plane was carrying 181 people, but only two survived. As the plane was about to land, it hit a bird, which damaged one of its engines. The pilots reported the bird strike and made a mayday call. They then tried to land from the opposite direction, but the plane landed on its belly, without the landing gear, and slid into a concrete barrier. The engines were later sent to France for further analysis.

The South Korean Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board recently released findings that said the pilot turned off the left engine, which was working fine, instead of the right engine, which had been damaged by the bird. The families of the victims are upset because the report does not mention the concrete barrier, which they say made the crash much worse. They released a statement asking for a fair and transparent investigation and said that investigators should only talk to the public after they have fully examined all the facts. The pilots' union also criticized the report, saying it focused too much on the pilots' mistakes and did not consider other factors that contributed to the accident. Despite these complaints, a source close to the investigation told Reuters that the investigators would not change their findings because they have clear evidence and data to support their conclusions.

After the crash, South Korea's transport ministry announced that it would remove concrete barriers at seven airports to prevent similar accidents in the future. In May, the families of the victims filed a criminal complaint against Jeju Air's chief executive, Kim E-bae, accusing him of professional negligence. He is one of 24 people being investigated in connection with the accident. The families are determined to make sure that all the causes of the crash are properly investigated so that future accidents can be prevented. They want to ensure that the investigation is thorough and that all responsible parties are held accountable. The crash has had a huge impact on the families, and they are working together to demand answers and improve safety for everyone who flies.

The tragedy has also led to changes in airport safety rules, with the government taking steps to remove dangerous barriers. The families hope that by speaking out, they can help prevent similar disasters in the future. They believe that a complete and honest investigation is necessary to find out what really happened and to make sure that no other families have to suffer the same loss. The investigation is still ongoing, and the families are waiting for more information and a final report that addresses all their concerns.