South Korean officials canceled the release of an intermediate report regarding the crash of a Jeju Air passenger jet after relatives of the victims disrupted a news conference, claiming the report was inadequate.
The incident occurred following a private briefing for the families on the investigation's progress. The report was expected to include findings from an analysis of the Boeing 737-800's engines, which crashed on December 29, resulting in the deaths of 179 out of 181 individuals on board.
A lawyer representing the victims' families stated that investigators found no faults with the engines, instead attributing the incident to bird strikes and the pilots' actions. The lawyer expressed concerns that the report unfairly placed blame on the deceased pilots and birds.
The relatives issued a statement indicating that the report's framing could mislead the public into believing that final conclusions had been drawn while the investigation was still ongoing. Many family members feared that the media might interpret the report as conclusive.
Prior to the news conference, the Transport Ministry distributed copies of the report to journalists, but the event was abruptly canceled after family members protested, leading officials to retract the report.
Jeju Air Flight 2216 had reported a bird strike and made an emergency landing, ultimately crashing and igniting a fireball. Only two flight attendants survived the incident, which remains the deadliest plane crash in South Korean history. The investigation is hindered by the absence of flight recorders, which stopped recording shortly before the crash.
While investigators have confirmed the presence of bird feathers in the engines, their role in the crash has not been clarified. The report was anticipated to focus on the engines manufactured by CFM International.
As the news conference was delayed, tensions escalated among the waiting reporters when relatives stormed in, voicing their objections. Officials attempted to proceed with the briefing but were met with resistance from the families.
The ministry spokesman announced the cancellation of the news conference and indicated that further consultations with the families would take place. The report on the engine analysis may be rescheduled.
The president of the relatives' delegation expressed that while they did not dispute the findings, they were dissatisfied with the presentation. She emphasized the need for supporting documents to validate the investigators' conclusions, which were not provided during the meeting.
The delegation had requested original findings from the engine analysis conducted by a team of investigators from the U.S., France, and South Korea in France, where one of the engine manufacturers is located. The president highlighted the importance of careful communication regarding the investigation's results, as it could affect compensation for the families.