Airline recalls another Boeing 737 to Seoul for technical checkup; Some passengers refuse to aboard alternative flight

After the fatal passenger plane crash at Muan Airport on Sunday morning, Jeju Air vowed support for the identification of victims and provide assistance to their families, but avoided speculating on the accident's cause or the progress of ongoing investigations.
"Since yesterday afternoon, around 300 Jeju Air employees have been on-site, including the CEO, engaging directly with the victims’ families and assisting with funeral arrangements," said Song Kyung-hoon, head of Jeju Air's management support division, during the third emergency briefing held at Mayfield Hotel in western Seoul, Monday.
"However, beyond our efforts to aid the bereaved as best as we can, we cannot make any comments on the cause of the accident, as the responsibility for the investigation now rests with government authorities."
Jeju Air announced that it had secured accommodation for the bereaved families in local hotels and had also arranged for dormitories at Mokpo National University. Around midnight, many family members were reportedly transported to the university, while others remained overnight in temporary shelters set up at the airport.
According to financial authorities, the aircraft was insured for a total of $1.03 billion. The liability coverage limit is $1 billion, while the coverage limit for damage to the aircraft itself is $36.51 million. Song stressed that the company’s primary focus is on assisting with funeral arrangements, with insurance consultations to follow based on the families’ needs.
"The aircraft is insured with five different insurance companies, and it is reinsured with a UK-based insurer. The insurance representative from the UK arrived in Korea late Sunday night, so discussions on insurance claims are set to begin today."
As for the Thai family members of two confirmed victims who are expected to arrive later in the day, he noted that Jeju Air would provide interpreters and on-site assistance for full support.
On Monday morning, another Jeju Air flight, the same Boeing 737-800 plane, returned to Seoul due to a landing gear malfunction, one of the isuses found in the Muan crash that are currently under extensive investigations.
"The pilot detected the issue soon after takeoff and communicated with ground maintenance control to address it. While the aircraft resumed normal operation, the captain decided to return for detailed inspection out of caution," Song explained. Passengers were transferred to an alternative flight, but 21 of them chose not to board due to safety concerns.
Addressing the qualifications of the captain and co-pilot involved in Sunday’s accident, Jeju Air clarified that both had passed the airline's certification processes.
The captain, who has five years of captain experience, had accumulated 6,800 flight hours, while the co-pilot, with one year and ten months of co-pilot experience, had logged 1,650 flight hours.
The aircraft involved in the crash was manufactured in September 2009, making it 15 years old. Jeju Air began leasing the plane on Feb. 3, 2017.
The airline said it had consistently adhered to maintenance protocols, conducting checks every 600 flight hours in line with manufacturer guidelines and Transport Ministry regulations. The most recent inspection, performed on Dec. 20, revealed no issues, according to Jeju Air.
The airline further explained that the Boeing 737-800 is primarily used for shorter routes rather than long-haul flights to North America or Europe, so it is subject to a higher frequency of takeoffs and landings.
The aircraft involved in the tragedy is reported to have completed 13 flights across a total of eight airports in the 48 hours leading up to the accident.