Relatives of Jeju Air Crash Victims File Criminal Complaint

Almost five months after a Jeju Air plane crashed in a deadly fireball at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on Dec. 29 and killed 179 people, dozens of bereaved family members filed a criminal complaint against 15 officials in the government and aviation industry.

On Tuesday, 72 relatives of victims submitted the complaint to the Jeonnam Provincial Police agency, accusing them of negligence and violating South Korean laws, according to a statement from lawyers representing the families.

Among those targeted in the complaint were Jeju Air’s CEO Kim E-bae, the nation’s transport minister, Park Sang-woo, and airport operators at the Muan International Airport. The complaint said they had been professionally negligent and violated the Serious Accidents Punishment Act as well as the Aviation Safety Act.