Tuesday, December 31, 2024
A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 was forced to return to Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport on Monday morning after experiencing a landing gear problem, raising safety concerns just a day after a fatal crash involving another aircraft of the same model.
Flight 7C101, en route to Jeju Island, departed at 6:37 a.m. but returned to Gimpo at 7:25 a.m. due to a technical issue detected shortly after takeoff. Jeju Air’s management confirmed the problem during a news conference.
“Shortly after takeoff, a signal indicating a landing gear issue was detected on the aircraft’s monitoring system,” said Song Kyung-hoon, head of Jeju Air’s management support office.
“At 6:57 a.m., the captain communicated with ground control.
Although the landing gear returned to normal operation after additional measures, the decision was made to return for a thorough inspection.”
The incident comes in the wake of a tragic crash on Sunday involving another Jeju Air Boeing 737-800.
The aircraft, traveling from Thailand to South Korea, crashed near Muan, bursting into flames after a reported landing gear malfunction. The crash claimed the lives of all aboard Flight 2216 except two cabin crew members who were rescued.
In response, South Korean authorities announced a comprehensive inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating in the country. The inspection will involve U.S. investigators, potentially including Boeing representatives.
“We are reviewing plans to conduct a special inspection on B737-800 aircraft,” said Joo Jong-wan, head of the aviation policy bureau at South Korea’s transport ministry. “The government will implement rigorous aviation safety inspections in response to these incidents.”
Local media reported that 21 passengers on Monday’s flight declined alternative transport to Jeju, citing safety concerns. Jeju Air’s fleet includes 41 aircraft, 39 of which are Boeing 737-800 models.
The airline has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation and address any safety issues identified during inspections.
South Korea’s aviation authorities are prioritizing measures to reassure passengers and prevent further incidents, with plans to enforce stricter oversight and enhance maintenance protocols for affected aircraft.
As investigations into both incidents continue, the aviation community awaits further updates on the technical issues and any potential implications for the Boeing 737-800 fleet globally.
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