This photo shows a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, escorted by fighter jets, during a ceremony to mark Armed Forces Day in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 25. Korea Time photo by Park Si-mon

A special inspection to ensure the safety of military aircraft is under way as the defense ministry has ordered the military to examine all aircraft following the fatal Jeju Air crash, officials said Tuesday.

The Navy has kicked off a safety inspection that will run through Saturday to examine its aircraft, including the P-8A maritime patrol plane based on the Boeing 737-800 commercial jet.

The Navy completed its acquisition of six P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft in July to bolster its anti-submarine capabilities.

The Air Force has also launched an inspection of its aircraft, including the Peace Eye airborne control aircraft modeled after the Boeing 737-700 commercial plane.

On Monday, the government said it plans to conduct a safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines following the Jeju Air plane crash Sunday in the southwestern county of Muan that claimed 179 lives. (Yonhap)