Some families of victims of the Jeju Air plane crash that occurred last December have filed a criminal complaint against 15 individuals, including South Korea’s Minister of Transport and the CEO of Jeju Air, accusing them of professional negligence.
The group, comprising 72 bereaved relatives, is demanding a deeper investigation into the incident, which claimed 179 of the 181 lives on board—making it the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil.
The families argue that the crash was not merely an unfortunate accident but a “major civic disaster resulting from the negligent management of preventable risks.”
Nearly five months after the tragedy, authorities continue to probe the cause of the crash, which happened during a landing attempt at Muan International Airport, where the aircraft ultimately burst into flames.
Although police had already launched a criminal investigation and imposed a travel ban on Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae, no formal charges have been filed.
One grieving relative, Kim Da-hye, expressed frustration over the investigation’s lack of progress.
“We are filled with deep anger and despair. By taking this extraordinary step of filing a criminal complaint, we are signaling that we won’t give up—we will continue our pursuit of the truth,” he said in a statement to the press.
The complaint targets 15 individuals, including government and airline officials as well as airport staff responsible for construction, maintenance, supervision, and bird control.
It raises multiple concerns about the circumstances of the crash, such as whether air traffic control responded properly and if the runway’s end-area mound reinforcement breached safety regulations.
The ill-fated Boeing 737-800 had departed Bangkok on the morning of December 29, heading for Muan, South Korea. Shortly after contacting Muan International Airport, the pilots reported a bird strike and issued a mayday.
In attempting to land from the opposite direction, the aircraft crash-landed without its landing gear deployed. It then skidded off the runway, collided with a concrete structure, and exploded.
Earlier this year, investigators reported finding bird feathers in both engines, though they have not confirmed the extent to which the bird strike contributed to the crash.
Since the tragedy, some grieving families have also faced a wave of online abuse and conspiracy theories ranging from baseless claims that victims’ families were faking grief to suggestions they were pleased to receive compensation. As of March, eight individuals had been apprehended for posting such defamatory and hurtful content online.
