SEOUL, June 21 (AJP) - South Korean police have filed criminal charges against 15 additional officials for their alleged roles in failing to prevent the Dec. 29 Jeju Air passenger jet crash, investigators announced on Saturday. The South Jeolla Provincial Police's investigation unit charged the officials with professional negligence resulting in death and injury, bringing the total number of suspects under investigation to 24 people including those previously charged following complaints filed by victims' families.
The newly charged individuals include Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport officials, Korea Airports Corporation employees, and personnel from companies involved in localizer facility construction. Police allege each failed to properly fulfill their duty of care in their respective positions, including air traffic control duties, bird strike prevention measures, and localizer facility construction oversight.
Investigators identified particularly serious violations related to the concrete localizer structure installed at the end of the runway, which they consider a critical safety breach. Air traffic controllers allegedly failed to adequately observe bird movements and flight paths or properly inform the pilot of bird activity. According to ministry guidelines, controllers must provide pilots with information about bird flocks, including their size and direction of movement, for at least 15 minutes when birds are observed.
Police also found evidence that bird control personnel failed to properly carry out preventive measures against bird strikes. Authorities plan to review whether to seek arrest warrants based on the severity of each individual's negligence and will consider additional charges pending results from localizer facility assessments and engine disassembly investigations.
reporter
Candice Kim
candicekim1121@ajupress.com
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