Accident investigators are trying to determine what caused a Jeju Air flight to make an emergency landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea without its landing gear, resulting in the deaths of 170 people and the injury of 11 others. The Boeing 737-800, one of the world’s most commonly used aircraft, was not equipped with today’s new safety features, such as stall alert systems.
The accident is South Korea’s worst air disaster in decades, and the country’s acting president has ordered an emergency inspection of the 737-800s used in the country. The aircraft that was involved in the accident was 15 years old and had previously been operated by European discount carrier Ryanair.
Aerospace experts say it’s unlikely that investigators will find a design problem with the aircraft, and a full investigation could take over a year. One theory is that a possible bird strike may have disabled one or both engines, leaving the pilots with little time to complete emergency checks.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the U.S. team of investigators, which also includes Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration. Under international protocols, the country where the accident occurred will lead the overall investigation.
Boeing shares fell sharply after local officials called for inspections of 737-800s operated by South Korean airlines, but pared earlier losses to end the day down 2.3%. The incident has raised more questions than answers, including why the landing gear wasn’t deployed and how the accident could have been avoided.
