SEOUL (ANN/KOREA HERALD( – The Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 that crashed at Muan International Airport last Sunday, claiming 179 lives, had experienced a prior incident in 2021, authorities revealed on Tuesday.
Korea Airports Corp. confirmed that the aircraft, registered as HL8088, sustained structural damage when its tail struck the runway during takeoff from Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport in February 2021. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport fined Jeju Air KRW2.2 billion (USD1.5 million) for failing to thoroughly inspect and repair the damage before resuming operations.
This revelation has drawn criticism over Jeju Air’s transparency, as the airline had previously denied any prior incidents involving the same aircraft. In a press briefing on Sunday, Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae claimed, “There had been no prior accident history whatsoever with this aircraft.”
In response to mounting scrutiny, Jeju Air later clarified that the 2021 incident was classified as an “event” rather than an “accident” under aviation law, and thus was not considered part of the aircraft’s accident history. The airline stated that it had paid the fine, completed inspections and repairs, and resumed operations in compliance with regulations.
Sunday’s crash occurred after the plane reportedly received a bird strike warning from the control tower. The aircraft appeared to attempt a belly landing without landing gear before colliding with a concrete embankment and catching fire. Investigators believe all three landing gear systems may have failed, though the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation.
The tragedy has reignited concerns over aviation safety and Jeju Air’s adherence to regulatory standards, as families of the victims await answers.
