US aids probe into Jeju Air crash killing 179

South Korean officials announced safety inspections for all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines as they seek to determine what led to this tragedy. Acting President Choi Sang-mok chaired a task force meeting on Monday to authorize an urgent examination of national aviation operating systems.

Investigations are also focusing on Muan International Airport's infrastructure, particularly a concrete barrier that was part of the localizer system used for guiding aircraft during landings. This structure did not collapse upon impact, potentially exacerbating the crash severity. Officials are considering whether such barriers should be constructed from lighter materials that could break more easily under similar circumstances.

Video footage from the accident site has raised concerns about possible mechanical issues, such as hydraulic problems that might have prevented landing gear and flaps from deploying correctly during descent. CBS News reported that investigators are closely examining these factors along with potential communication failures between pilots and air traffic controllers during the go-around maneuver.

Authorities confirmed that four crew members and all 175 passengers perished in the crash; two surviving crew members were seated near the rear of the aircraft at impact. Efforts to identify victims have been slow due to over 600 body parts recovered from wreckage. As of Monday, 141 bodies were identified using DNA and fingerprint samples collected from remaining victims. The youngest passenger was three years old; the oldest was 78—a tragic loss prompting widespread grief across South Korea as families demand swift return of their loved ones' remains.