The bereaved families of the victims of the Jeju Air disaster that occurred in December last year have filed criminal complaints against the government, airport officials, and airline representatives. They also demanded a swift investigation and disclosure of information.
Seventy-two bereaved family members of the Jeju Air disaster on Dec. 29 filed a complaint on the 13th, saying, "This disaster was a significant civic disaster caused by negligence in managing a foreseeable risk," and named 15 individuals, including the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the representative of Jeju Air, and the representative of Korea Airport Service. They are requesting an investigation into whether the defendants violated the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, the law regarding occupational negligence leading to death, and the Aviation Safety Act, according to their roles and responsibilities.
The bereaved families are calling for an investigation into the overall cause of the accident and the initial response process. They are requesting confirmation on whether the judgment to attempt a go-around immediately after the aircraft experienced a bird strike was appropriate, whether there were any issues with air traffic control responses until the emergency landing was made, and whether the aircraft engine maintenance was sufficient.
In particular, they urged an investigation into whether the runway end embankment, identified as a contributing factor in this disaster, was installed in violation of regulations and whether its condition exacerbated the accident damage.
Im Tae-ho, the head of the Jeju Air legal support team of the Gwangju Bar Association, which legally supported this complaint, stated, "Through this complaint, the bereaved families have gained legal status in criminal proceedings," and urged that "investigative agencies should do their best to protect the rights of the bereaved families by disclosing information about the investigation status to them."
Meanwhile, right after the Jeju Air disaster occurred, the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Commission and the Jeollanam-do Police Agency began investigations into the cause of the accident and responsibility.