South Korean police have raided Jeju Air, which operates the airport due to a fatal plane crash

South Korean police said Thursday they raided Jeju Air and Muan International Airport as part of their investigation into Sunday’s crash that killed 179 people in the country’s worst aviation disaster.

Jeju Air 7C2216, which took off from the Thai capital of Bangkok to Muan in southwestern South Korea, went down and overshot the regional runway, bursting into flames after hitting an embankment.

Two crew members, who were sitting at the tail end of the Boeing 737-800, were pulled alive by rescuers but were injured.

Police investigators are searching the offices of the airport operator and air traffic control in the southwestern city of Muan, as well as Jeju Air’s office in Seoul, South Jeolla provincial police said in a press release.

Investigators plan to seize documents and materials related to the operation and maintenance of the aircraft as well as the operation of airport facilities, a police chief told Reuters.

A spokesperson for Jeju Air said the airline is assessing the situation. The company that operates the airport could not be reached for comment.

Air safety experts’ questions about what led to the deadly explosion have centered on a ledge built to support navigation equipment that they say is rigid and too close to the end of the runway.

“This solid structure was a disaster when the glider impacted,” said Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering professor at the University of Southern California, adding that it was because the navigation antenna was installed in “a scary concrete structure, instead of the usual one.” steel tower/pylon installation.”

Stationary equipment is not used

An investigation into the Jeju Air flight is also ongoing involving South Korean officials and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the plane’s manufacturer, Boeing.

It is still unclear why the plane did not deploy its landing gear and what led the pilot to attempt a second landing after telling air traffic controllers that the plane had crashed and declared an emergency.

The plane’s flight data recorder, which sustained some damage, is being taken to the United States for analysis in cooperation with the NTSB.

The conversion of data from the cockpit voice recorder to an audio file should be completed on Friday, acting President Choi Sang-mok said, which could provide vital information about the plane’s final minutes.

An official of the Department of Transportation said on Wednesday that it may be difficult to release the audio files to the public because they will be sensitive in the ongoing investigation.

Choi said at the crisis meeting that action must be taken immediately if a special inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating in the country finds problems. Choi’s comments at the start of the meeting were provided by his office.

NTSB, FAA and Boeing investigators are in South Korea to assist in the investigation.

Choi asked that no effort be made to help the families of the dead as the remains of those killed are donated. He also asked the police to take action against anyone who posts “cruel” messages and fake news on social media related to the tragedy.