South Korea starts releasing Jeju Air crash victims' bodies to families

The South Korean authorities began releasing the bodies of the victims of Flight 2216 accident to families on Dec 31, as investigators raced to determine why the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and burst into flames.

- 

MUAN - The South Korean authorities began releasing the bodies of the victims of Flight 2216 accident to families on Dec 31, as investigators raced to determine why the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and burst into flames.

US investigators, including from Boeing, arrived at the crash site in south-western Muan, officials said, as the South Korean authorities began assessing two black boxes retrieved from the burnt-out wreckage of the aircraft.

The plane was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea when it made a mayday call and belly-landed before crashing into a barrier and bursting into flames.

Everyone aboard the flight was killed, save for two flight attendants pulled from the wreckage.

South Korea is observing seven days of mourning, with flags flying at half-mast.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who has been in office only since Dec 27, said the accident was a "turning point" for the country, calling for a full overhaul of air safety systems.

He urged officials to "thoroughly re-examine the overall aircraft operation system...and immediately address any necessary improvements".