Families of Jeju Air crash victims file criminal complaint against 15 individuals

Families of victims killed in the Jeju Air plane crash last December have filed a criminal complaint against 15 people, including South Korea's transport minister and the airline's CEO, accusing them of professional negligence.

The complaint, filed by 72 bereaved relatives, calls for a more thorough investigation into the crash, which killed 179 of the 181 people on board, making it South Korea's deadliest air disaster.

The families argue that the crash, which occurred at Muan International Airport, was "a major civic disaster caused by negligent management of preventable risks." Nearly five months after the incident, authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash-landing and subsequent fire. While a criminal investigation is already underway, no one has been indicted, and Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae has been barred from leaving the country.

The complaint also raises concerns about the actions of air traffic control and whether construction at the airport, including the reinforcement of a mound at the runway's end, violated regulations. The Boeing 737-800 struck a bird just five minutes before attempting to land, triggering a mayday. The aircraft belly-landed without its landing gear deployed, overran the runway, hit a concrete structure, and exploded.

Investigators found bird feathers in both engines but have yet to determine the exact role of the bird strike in the crash. The families, frustrated with the lack of progress, have vowed to continue their pursuit of justice. Additionally, some relatives have faced online conspiracy theories and defamatory comments, with eight people arrested for spreading false claims.

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