In December 2025, a tragic accident at Muan International Airport claimed the lives of 179 people, prompting a group of 72 relatives of the victims to take legal action against key figures from Jeju Air and the South Korean government.
Relatives of Jeju Air Crash Victims File Negligence Complaint Against Officials
Relatives of Jeju Air Crash Victims File Negligence Complaint Against Officials
Family members of victims killed in the deadly Jeju Air crash have filed a criminal complaint against 15 aviation officials, accusing them of negligence and serious violations of South Korean law.
On May 14, 2025, grieving relatives of the passengers who lost their lives in the Jeju Air crash, which occurred at Muan International Airport on December 29, filed a significant criminal complaint. The families are holding 15 aviation officials accountable, alleging negligence and breaches of South Korean aviation law. The complaint was formally submitted to the Jeonnam Provincial Police, with claims directed at Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae, South Korea's Minister of Transport Park Sang-woo, and various airport operators.
The families argue that the tragedy stemmed from systemic failings rather than being a mere accident. They specifically cited concerns about the pilot's sharp maneuver when approaching landing and irregularities in the plane's engine maintenance history. Furthermore, they highlighted that the flight recorder stopped functioning merely four minutes before the crash, impeding full investigation efforts.
Despite lingering questions about the accident's official cause—still under scrutiny by officials—investigative reports have outlined prior warnings about the risks of bird strikes and suggested that a softer terminal wall might have mitigated the disaster's impact. “I can’t help but feel deep anger and despair,” expressed Kim Da-hye, a family member of one of the victims, underscoring the frustration over inadequate responsiveness in the months following the incident.
In response to public outrage, South Korean transportation officials have pledged to reform airport safety measures, including potential renovations of critical infrastructure at multiple airports and the introduction of drone technology for monitoring wildlife activity nearby. Muan International Airport is slated to resume operations by July, after implementing new protocols. Concurrent investigations by the nation's Aviation Railroad Accident Investigation Committee and experts from the United States continue to seek clarity on the crash's causative factors, leaving the families yearning for justice and accountability.
The families argue that the tragedy stemmed from systemic failings rather than being a mere accident. They specifically cited concerns about the pilot's sharp maneuver when approaching landing and irregularities in the plane's engine maintenance history. Furthermore, they highlighted that the flight recorder stopped functioning merely four minutes before the crash, impeding full investigation efforts.
Despite lingering questions about the accident's official cause—still under scrutiny by officials—investigative reports have outlined prior warnings about the risks of bird strikes and suggested that a softer terminal wall might have mitigated the disaster's impact. “I can’t help but feel deep anger and despair,” expressed Kim Da-hye, a family member of one of the victims, underscoring the frustration over inadequate responsiveness in the months following the incident.
In response to public outrage, South Korean transportation officials have pledged to reform airport safety measures, including potential renovations of critical infrastructure at multiple airports and the introduction of drone technology for monitoring wildlife activity nearby. Muan International Airport is slated to resume operations by July, after implementing new protocols. Concurrent investigations by the nation's Aviation Railroad Accident Investigation Committee and experts from the United States continue to seek clarity on the crash's causative factors, leaving the families yearning for justice and accountability.
