In the aftermath of the tragic Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash that claimed 179 lives, South Korean authorities have launched extensive investigations, conducting raids at Muan International Airport and the airline's offices in Seoul. This crash marks the deadliest aviation incident in South Korea's history, involving a Boeing 737-800 that was carrying 181 individuals from Thailand to South Korea.

On January 2, police carried out search and seizure operations at multiple locations, including the Jeju Air office, the regional aviation body, and Muan airport itself, where the incident occurred. The actions followed a mayday call from the flight, which resulted in a belly landing before the aircraft collided with a concrete barrier and burst into flames. Only two flight attendants survived the disaster, highlighting the severity of the situation. The police stated they aim to determine the cause and accountability rigorously, complying with legal principles (South China Morning Post).

Investigation teams have recovered the aircraft's two black boxes. The cockpit voice recorder is currently being decoded, while the flight data recorder is severely damaged and will be sent to the United States for further analysis. Investigators had initially considered a possible bird strike as a contributing factor but are now also investigating the role of the concrete barrier located near the runway (Al Jazeera).

As part of the wider examination, all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating within South Korea have been ordered for specialized inspections focusing on potential mechanical failures, particularly regarding the landing gear, which allegedly failed to deploy. The acting President of South Korea, Choi Sang-mok, stressed the need for immediate corrective measures should the investigations reveal any anomalies with the aircraft that concern the public (CBS News).

Continuing to pay respects to the victims, mourners have left messages, flowers, and traditional foods at the crash site, including tteokguk, while families were allowed to visit for emotional farewells. Waiting lines stretched several hundred meters as individuals honored the deceased. In a public statement, officials confirmed that hundreds of investigations are ongoing to ensure aviation safety following this critical incident, which has affected public confidence in South Korea's aviation industry.

The situation surrounding this incident remains fluid as authorities face pressure to provide clarity and accountability in the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil since 1997, when another significant crash occurred involving a Korean Air flight.

For more details, please refer to the following articles: Al Jazeera, The Guardian, and CBS News.