It was heartbreaking to learn that Jeju Air's passenger plane, carrying 181 people including crew, crashed at Muan International Airport, resulting in the deaths of all but two passengers, who were rescued Sunday. Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which departed from Bangkok, made an unsuccessful belly-landing at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province. The plane then overran the runway and exploded upon colliding with a concrete wall.

The plane was destroyed beyond recognition, underscoring the severity of the crash and the tragic loss of life on the final Sunday of 2024. Many of the passengers were families, primarily from the region, returning from year-end trips. The victims ranged in age from young children to the elderly, and among them were two Thai nationals.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families who have lost loved ones in this devastating tragedy. As authorities work to determine the exact cause of the crash, the nation braces for what is expected to be one of the worst aviation disasters since the Korean Air crash in Guam in 1997, which claimed at least 200 lives, and the Asiana Airlines accident at San Francisco airport in 2013, which resulted in three fatalities.

The investigation is expected to take time, but a bird strike and malfunctioning landing gear are being cautiously considered as possible causes of the crash. Some experts have noted that the runway length at Muan International Airport, at 2.8 kilometers, is shorter than those at other international airports. With the plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder now secured, authorities must conduct a transparent and credible investigation into the cause of the accident. This will not only help prevent future incidents but also provide some closure for the victims' families. Additionally, the government has appropriately ordered a comprehensive review of the safety and maintenance status of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which is predominantly used by the nation's budget carriers.

The aviation disaster comes at a time when Korea is grappling with significant political turmoil following the brief emergency martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 3. While Yoon awaits the Constitutional Court's decision on an impeachment motion passed against him by the National Assembly, acting President Han Duck-soo, the prime minister, was also impeached on Friday by the National Assembly for refusing to appoint three members to fill three vacant seats on the nine-member adjudicating court.

The main opposition and ruling parties must set aside partisan conflicts and work together on the government's relief efforts, ensuring that transparent and credible investigations can proceed. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, should honor his statement that "there can be no difference between the government and the parties," emphasizing the importance of unity in addressing this tragedy.

The swift response of acting President Choi Sang-mok, who is also deputy prime minister and finance minister, by showing up at the crash site, along with the designation of Muan as a special disaster zone eligible for state support, should provide some relief to the families of the victims. The response also reassures the public that the government is capable of effectively handling such crises.

Jeju Air, recognized as a leading budget carrier, also expressed deep apologies and pledged to do its utmost to address the aftermath of the crash. Several key government positions, including the interior minister and chief of the Korean National Police Agency, remain vacant due to ongoing investigations into insurrection and abuse of power allegations following the Dec. 3 martial law debacle and the subsequent impeachments. As the year comes to a close, political parties, regardless of their affiliations, must put aside their differences and support both government and private efforts to help the families and the nation recover.