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South Korea\u2019s parliament has launched<\/a> an independent inquiry into the deadliest air disaster on its soil amid accusations of investigation delays and cover-ups of last year\u2019s Jeju Air crash.<\/p>\n On 29 December 2024 all but two of the 181 people onboard a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 died when it crashed at Muan international airport, 288km south of Seoul, after reporting a bird strike<\/a> during landing.<\/p>\n The aircraft, flying from Bangkok, belly-landed successfully but then struck a concrete embankment at the runway\u2019s end and exploded into flames.<\/p>\n The 18-member parliamentary committee will spend 40 days investigating the crash, with the possibility of extension if needed, including whether government agencies tried to downplay or conceal evidence during the official inquiry.<\/p>\n The investigation, approved by 245 votes to one on Monday, comes after the government cancelled planned hearings earlier this month amid anger from the victims\u2019 relatives.<\/p>\n Nearly a year after the crash, the families\u2019 fury centres on the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (Araib<\/a>), which has conducted the official inquiry.<\/p>\n The board reports directly to South Korea\u2019s transport ministry \u2013 the same government department responsible for airport safety and the concrete structure that some believe worsened the disaster.<\/p>\n This creates a \u201cstructural contradiction where the investigation target is investigating itself\u201d, the families said, violating what they call international aviation standards for independence.<\/p>\n