• South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok has mandated an emergency safety inspection of the entire airline operation following a deadly crash that resulted in 179 fatalities.
• The crash involved a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, which belly-landed and collided with a concrete embankment at Muan International Airport.
• Investigators are examining factors such as a potential bird strike and the aircraft's control systems, while questioning the airport's runway design.
• Choi has emphasized the need for transparency in the investigation and the priority of identifying victims and supporting their families.
• International aviation experts have joined the investigation amidst growing concerns regarding the design of airport obstacles located near runways.

As officials continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the deadly crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which left only two survivors among 181 people on board, the focus has intensified on both the aircraft's malfunction and the runway's safety features. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has directed swift inspections of all Boeing 737-800s in South Korea amidst survivor support and identification efforts.

Flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok, suffered a critical incident shortly after descending at Muan International Airport. A rapid investigation has been prompted not only by the tragic loss of 175 passengers and four crew members but also by the proximity of a concrete embankment, raising questions over the airport's runway design. Experts indicate that adherence to industry guidelines should have prevented hard structures like embankments from being erected within 300 meters of the runway end, yet a large dirt-and-concrete embankment was placed approximately 250 meters away, leading to catastrophic consequences when the aircraft skidded off the runway.

The inquiry has also enlisted participation from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing representatives, but significant challenges lie ahead. Damaged flight recorders may hinder efforts to understand the precise chain of events leading to the crash. The first black box, which holds critical flight data, suffered damage that might affect data recovery, while the cockpit voice recorder is reported to be in a better condition, offering some hope for investigators.

With families awaiting answers inside Muan Airport, criticism rises over the delay in victim identification, leading many to draw parallels with the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster. Eyewitness accounts described the tragic scene as the aircraft collided with the embankment post-landing attempt. The flight had reportedly declared an emergency due to a bird strike shortly before its descent. Choi has promised measures to support grieving families while ensuring a transparent investigation process is carried out.

The outpouring of grief is palpable, as memorials spring up across the country, highlighting the deep collective sorrow felt throughout South Korea as the nation seeks answers in this time of tragedy.