Release of Jeju Air crash report delayed amid families’ rejection of findings

Firefighters and inspectors lift an engine of the crashed Jeju Air passenger plane at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Jan. 3. Newsis

The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) is facing intense criticism from the families of victims, after releasing interim findings on the Jeju Air passenger plane crash attributing the Dec. 29 tragedy primarily to pilot error.

Before a planned press briefing on Saturday, the bereaved families were informed of the preliminary assessment but protested strongly, arguing that the interim report regarding the crash that killed 179 people blamed the pilot prematurely. As a result of their outcry, the press conference was canceled and the release of the report was postponed.

According to ARAIB and victim families on Monday, the preliminary report suggested that after a severe bird strike critically damaged the right engine, the pilot might have mistakenly shut down the still-functioning left engine while following emergency procedures.

That decision led to stopping the integrated drive generator (IDG), a critical component that generates and supplies electrical power to all of the plane’s systems. The failure of the IDG meant that some vital equipment ― including the black boxes and the landing gear ― may have stopped operating moments before the crash.

Jeju Air Flight 2216 issued a mayday before landing on its belly, overrunning the runway at high speed and striking a concrete-reinforced berm supporting the instrument landing system antenna. Of the 181 people on board, only two survived.

ARAIB stated that both engines recovered from the crash site were sent for analysis in May to CFM International, the Franco-American aircraft engine manufacturer. It added that the investigation also included participation from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety.

Kim Yu-jin, a representative of the families of the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash, speaks to reporters at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Saturday. Newsis

Yet the victims’ families and relatives have firmly rejected the preliminary results, calling for more transparency in the investigation. They contend that the interim findings lack crucial information about the specific engine damage and the full scope of the bird strike. They are calling for the public release of all flight recorder and engine data.

“It basically puts all the blame on the dead birds and the dead pilots,” Hwang Pill-kyu, a legal representative for the families, told reporters Saturday.

Echoing these concerns, the Jeju Air pilots' union also issued a statement denouncing the preliminary assessment.

“We are outraged by ARAIB’s one-sided announcement and the unfiltered reporting of this announcement by the media, and we firmly reject the malicious framing that seeks to shift the blame onto the pilot,” the union said.

The union also said that the investigation overlooked broader systemic and infrastructural factors, including why the concrete berm was present at the airport in the first place and who was responsible for its placement ― elements they believe may have worsened the outcome of the crash.

As ARAIB continues its investigation, it plans to seek further input from victims’ families, hold public hearings and, if necessary, conduct additional investigations in cooperation with agencies such as the National Forensic Service. The final report is expected to be released in June 2026.