SEOUL, Jan 3 - South Korea's Ministry of Transport has announced an extension of special inspections for all 101 Boeing 737-800 jets used by the country's airlines. This measure follows the devastating crash of a Jeju Air flight that claimed 179 lives on Sunday, marking the nation's worst aviation disaster to date. Originally scheduled to conclude on January 3, the inspections will now continue until January 10 to ensure comprehensive evaluations, particularly concerning maintenance practices and equipment safety, as reported by Reuters.

The Jeju Air Flight 2216, which was flying from Bangkok to Muan County, encountered critical issues while attempting to land, ultimately overshooting the runway and colliding with an embankment. This incident has raised significant concerns about the airline's operational protocols, leading to discussions involving top executives from major carriers like Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, who met with the transport ministry to address enhancements in aviation safety measures. The ministry stated that if serious violations are identified during the inspections, airline operations could face suspension (Al Jazeera).

As part of a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy, South Korea's investigation team is set to collaborate with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to analyze the flight data recorder, with two officials traveling to the United States next week. The team is also scrutinizing the wreckage and conducting interviews with airport control personnel. Investigators are focusing on multiple facets of the crash, including potential bird strikes, failure of landing gear deployment, and hazardous conditions caused by an obstruction at the end of the runway.

Furthermore, authorities have begun the process of lifting the wreckage, with police reporting the possibility of discovering more human remains. The urgency to gather evidence is underscored by acting President Choi Sang-mok, who has called for a thorough and swift investigation. Additionally, analysts will evaluate data from 107 mobile phones recovered from the crash site to piece together information leading up to the disaster, emphasizing the importance of determining the circumstances surrounding the plane's ill-fated landing attempt.