S. Korean plane flew 13 times in 48 hours before crash

ISTANBUL

The South Korean aircraft that crashed on Sunday, killing 179 people, had completed 13 flights within the 48 hours preceding the tragedy, local media reported.

The Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 had operated routes between Muan, Jeju Island, and Incheon, west of Seoul, before the fatal incident, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News.

The aircraft likely experienced a landing gear malfunction during its descent at Muan International Airport, 288 kilometers (179 miles) southwest of Seoul.

"It was also found to have traveled to international destinations, including Beijing, Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, Nagasaki, and Taipei," Yonhap said.

“The aircraft served as a charter flight for group tours mostly organized by a Gwangju-based travel agency, which offered a 5-day package trip to Bangkok for the Christmas season.”

Charter flights, scheduled based on demand, are often filled with passengers selected by travel agencies.

Regional airports in South Korea depend heavily on such operations, mostly run by low-cost carriers like Jeju Air.

"In the case of regional airports, there are very few regular flight routes, so they often rely on charter operations. Since most airlines operating at regional airports are low-cost carriers, the majority of charter flights are run by these airlines," a travel industry official told Yonhap News.

“According to the company’s data, the average monthly flight time per Jeju Air aircraft was recorded at 418 hours in the July-September period, the longest among the six domestic low-cost carriers.”

Another Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air, which departed from Gimpo International Airport, faced a similar landing gear issue recently.

The flight returned to the airport, and 161 passengers were informed of the problem. While the issue was found to be functional after inspection, 21 passengers opted not to board the replacement aircraft due to safety concerns.

On Sunday morning, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 passengers and crew caught fire while landing at Muan International Airport after reportedly encountering landing gear issues.

South Korean authorities confirmed 179 deaths, leaving only two survivors, after the plane crashed 288 kilometers (179 miles) southwest of the capital Seoul.