• Families of Jeju Air crash victims file a complaint against 15 officials.
• The complaint targets the transport minister and airline safety representatives.
• The crash is South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster, killing 179 people.
• Families express frustration over lack of investigation progress.
• Authorities found bird strike evidence in the aircraft's engines.

Families of the victims from the Jeju Air plane crash that occurred on December 29 have filed a criminal complaint against 15 individuals, which includes South Korea's Transport Minister Park Sang-woo and Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae. This legal action, initiated by 72 bereaved relatives, alleges negligence in managing aviation safety risks and seeks a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, which claimed the lives of 179 out of 181 passengers and crew members on board. The incident has been described as the "deadliest air disaster on the country's soil," prompting the need for accountability, according to Channel News Asia and BBC.

The complaint arose from ongoing frustrations among the families, who perceive that the investigations led by authorities lack substantial progress. Despite an ongoing police inquiry that has kept the airline CEO from leaving the country, no indictments have been made thus far. Victims' families emphasized their determination for resolution, with one family member expressing, "We are filled with deep anger and despair," and underscoring their commitment to pursue the truth behind the crash, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

The investigation's focus has centered on whether the handling of maintenance, especially regarding the landing gear, and safety measures related to bird strikes were adequate. There are also questions regarding air traffic control's response during the emergency landing attempt, as the aircraft belly-landed without deployed landing gear and later crashed into a concrete structure. This structure, which caused multiple casualties, has raised concerns over its construction appropriateness, aligning with statements from the bereaved families regarding the inadequacies in safety protocols, as noted by Channel News Asia, BBC, India Times, and South China Morning Post.