In a tragic turn of events, South Korea's Muan International Airport has become the focal point of a police investigation following a catastrophic plane crash that occurred on Sunday, claiming the lives of 179 people. The ill-fated Jeju Air flight 2216, which was en route from Thailand, tragically crashed during its landing attempt. Of the 181 onboard, only two flight attendants miraculously survived the incident, marking this disaster as one of the worst in South Korean aviation history.

As the nation grapples with grief and shock, police have conducted a series of raids, targeting three locations: Muan Airport itself, the Jeju Air office in Seoul, and a regional aviation office. These operations stem from suspicions of professional negligence that may have contributed to the loss of life. Authorities stated, "A search and seizure operation is being conducted to gather evidence related to the accident."

The crash, which appears to have been precipitated by a failure of the Boeing 737-800's landing gear, has heightened scrutiny over aviation safety practices. Investigators are diligently working with the recovered "black boxes" from the wreckage, including the cockpit voice recorder, while the flight data recorder is set to be sent to the United States for deeper analysis due to damage sustained during the crash.

In light of this tragedy, South Korea's government has ordered a comprehensive safety inspection across all airline operations within the country. This includes immediate checks on the landing gear of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft currently in service, as public concern mounts regarding the safety of this aircraft model. "If any issues are found during the inspection, please take immediate corrective action," emphasized Choi Sang-mok, the interim president, stressing the urgency of maintaining public trust in aviation safety.

As investigators probe potential causes—including mechanical failure and even the possibility of a bird strike—attention has also turned to infrastructure concerns, particularly the concrete barrier that appears to be inappropriately positioned near the runway's end. Aviation experts have raised alarms about this design flaw, suggesting it may have contributed to the high-speed collision that claimed many lives.

Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded at the crash site on Wednesday, as relatives of the victims visited to pay their respects. Among those who perished were five children under 10 and nine members of the same family, amplifying the tragedy's emotional toll on the community. Mourners ached with grief as they honored the deceased, offering tteokguk—traditional rice-cake soup—amid widespread public memorials established to commemorate those lost.

As investigations continue and inspections commence, the question remains: What safety measures will be implemented to prevent such tragedies from recurring? The nation is holding its breath, demanding accountability, transparency, and most importantly, justice for the victims of this devastating airline disaster.