Acting President Orders Aircraft Inspection Immediately In South Korea After Jeju Air Tragedy

Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok. (Twitter/@moefkorea_eng)

JAKARTA - South Korean President Choi Sang-mok said on Thursday the action should be taken immediately if a special inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated in the country encounters any problems, as authorities step up investigations into deadly air accidents experienced by Jeju Air.

"Conversion of data from cockpit voice recorder Jeju Air 7C2216 to audio file must be completed on Friday," Choi said at a disaster management meeting, which could provide important information about the last minute of the destined flight.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft belonging to Jeju Air airline with flight number 7C2216 and registration of HL8088 from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand had a fatal accident while landing at Muan International Airport, South Korea on December 29.

The plane carrying 175 passengers and six crew members on the flight turned into fireball after making an emergency landing and hitting the wall. Only two crew members survived the incident.

"Because there are great public concerns about the same aircraft model involved in the crash, the relevant transport ministries and organizations must conduct a thorough examination of maintenance, education and training operations," Choi said.

Choi's comments at the start of the meeting were given by his office.

Questions by air safety experts about what caused the deadly explosion to focus on embankments designed to shore up navigation equipment, which they say may be built too close to the end of the runway.

Recording of aircraft flight data, which suffered some damage, is being taken to the United States for analysis in collaboration with the US National Transportation Safety Agency (NTSB).

Investigators from the NTSB, the US Federation Aviation Agency and Boeing are in South Korea to help investigate the country's worst air disaster.

Choi asked that no effort be ignored in helping the families of the victims when the bodies of those who died were handed over to them.

He also asked the police to take action against anyone who posted "crime" messages and fake news on social media regarding the disaster.