South Korea police raid transport ministry, Korea Airports Corp again over Jeju Air crash

South Korean police intensified their investigation into the fatal 2024 Jeju Air crash by raiding the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Airports Corp (KAC) for a second time, along with the Busan Regional Office of Aviation. The ongoing probe centers on suspected negligence concerning the airport's concrete localiser structure, a key navigation aid that the aircraft struck during its emergency landing attempt.

Authorities are seeking to secure further evidence related to potential failings that may have led to the deaths of 179 people. These latest raids are distinct from previous searches, including one in June, and follow the discovery of new areas of concern during the investigation. The Busan Regional Office of Aviation and the KAC have both been searched previously, as has the transport ministry, which has faced multiple searches since March.

During an earlier raid on the ministry in March, four officials were booked as suspects. Investigators at the time were examining the disaster's cause and the adequacy of the agencies' response. Police are also scrutinizing allegations that the transport ministry attempted to minimize or hide safety issues related to the concrete embankment, despite initially stating it did not violate regulations after the crash.

The investigation is also exploring whether safety problems linked to the disaster could be traced back to the airport's construction, which commenced in 1999. Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, en route from Bangkok, crash-landed at Muan International Airport on December 29, 2024, overran the runway, and collided with the localiser structure, igniting a fire. Of the 181 individuals on board, only two survived with injuries, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korean history. Police have now booked 45 individuals on suspicion of negligence, and are considering whether the case falls under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.