Jeju Air emergency landing echoes tragedy in Muan
The Jeju Air plane had to turn back due to a landing gear malfunction, similar to the one that caused the crash in Muan.
The Jeju Air flight number 7C101 took off from Gimpo International Airport to Jeju, but it had to return to the airport due to a detected landing gear malfunction.
According to Yonhap, the flight lasted just under 50 minutes, and passengers were informed of the technical problem.
The plane that turned back was a Boeing B737-800, the same model that crashed in Muan. The landing gear malfunction was similar to the one that may have contributed to the crash.
Jeju Air has 39 such aircraft in its fleet.
The Muan disaster
In the crash in Muan on Sunday, 179 people died. Experts indicate that the landing gear issue could have resulted from a bird strike. South Korea’s Ministry of Transport described it as the most tragic air disaster in 30 years.
The acting president of South Korea, Choi Sang Mok, declared a national mourning period to last until the 4th of January.
