The closure of Muan International Airport in South Korea following the Jeju Air Flight 2216 (Bangkok-Muan) accident has been extended to January 7. Additionally, 11 refrigerated containers have been installed at a temporary mortuary to prevent body decomposition.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) announced that 11 refrigerated containers are currently in operation at the temporary mortuary, accommodating 175 bodies, four of which have already been transported. Furthermore, 88 joint memorial altars for the victims have been set up across 17 cities and provinces.
The runway closure was initially slated to last until 5 a.m. on January 1. However, the airport will remain shut until 5 a.m. on January 7 to allow for a thorough recovery process at the crash site.
An investigation into the accident has begun, with 11 investigators from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board and eight joint investigators from the United States dispatched to the site as of Tuesday.
The Testing and Analysis Center has cleaned the black box of surface contaminants, and its condition is being evaluated.
However, the flight data recorder was missing without the connector linking the data storage and power supply units. Technical reviews are underway to determine methods for data extraction.
MOLIT plans to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the maintenance history of key systems, including engines and landing gear, on 101 aircraft of the same model operated by six airlines by February 3.
The breakdown by airline includes 39 aircraft operated by Jeju Air, 19 by Jin Air, 27 by T’way Air, 10 by Eastar Jet, 2 by Korean Air, and 4 by Air Incheon.
Support measures for the disaster victims and their families are being carried out. These include one-on-one matching with 602 local government personnel, accommodations (655 rooms and meal facilities secured), emergency supplies (blankets, tents, etc.), psychological support (62 mental health professionals), and on-site medical clinics staffed by two doctors.