Police raid Ministry of Transport, Airport Corp over Jeju Air crash

South Korea's special investigation team on the Jeju Air crash has searched the offices of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Korea Airports Corporation, and the Busan Regional Aviation Administration. The searches, which began on the morning of July 11, are aimed at securing additional evidence related to charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

The December 29, 2024, crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216, en route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport, resulted in a catastrophic outcome. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft veered off the runway during an emergency landing attempt, colliding with a concrete embankment of the landing guidance system. Of the 181 people on board, 179 perished, and two were injured.

This is not the first time authorities have searched these entities. The special team previously conducted searches of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in March and June. For the Korea Airports Corporation, this marks the second search since the team's inception.

Investigators are scrutinizing allegations that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport attempted to downplay or conceal facts in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Specifically, the ministry's early statements suggested that the concrete embankment near the runway did not violate regulations, a claim now under intense investigation.