Jeju Air flight from Seoul to Jeju Island was forced to make an emergency return to Gimpo International Airport on Monday due to a landing gear issue, sparking concerns over aviation safety in South Korea.
This incident comes just a day after a deadly plane crash involving another Jeju Air flight, which resulted in the loss of 179 lives.
According to Song Kyung-hoon, the head of Jeju Air’s management support office, Flight 7C101 departed Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport at 6:37 am but returned at 7:25 am after the pilots detected a landing gear problem shortly after takeoff.
“The captain communicated with ground control, and after taking additional measures, the landing gear returned to normal operation. However, as a precautionary measure, the decision was made to return to the airport for a thorough inspection of the aircraft,” Kyung-hoon explained.
The incident has raised concerns among passengers, with 21 choosing not to board an alternate flight to Jeju, citing safety concerns and other reasons.
Jeju Air operates a fleet of 41 planes, including 39 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the same model involved in Sunday’s fatal crash.
In response to the incidents, the South Korean government has announced plans to conduct a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 planes in operation in the country.
US investigators, possibly including representatives from Boeing, will join the probe into Sunday’s crash.
Joo Jong-wan, the head of the aviation policy bureau at the South Korean transport ministry, stated that the government will implement rigorous aviation safety inspections to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
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