Seoul, Dec 31 (NationPress) The remains of 174 out of 179 fatalities from this week's Jeju Air plane crash have been tentatively recognized, according to the land ministry's announcement on Tuesday.
During a briefing held for the victims' families at Muan International Airport, located 288 kilometers south of Seoul, the ministry mentioned that efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining five victims.
"Among the 32 individuals whose identities could not be confirmed through fingerprints, we have successfully identified 17 in the first DNA test and an additional 10 in the second round," the ministry stated. "We are currently verifying the identity of the remaining five due to DNA inconsistencies."
The remains of four identified victims have been returned to their families, with funeral arrangements being initiated in their respective hometowns, as confirmed by officials.
Officials previously indicated that the complete identification and return of all remains could take up to 10 days, as many bodies were severely charred, according to reports by Yonhap news agency.
Authorities are currently preserving the victims' remains in a temporary cold storage facility located in a hangar at Muan airport.
A team from the US National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing officials arrived at the site earlier today to assist South Korean authorities with the ongoing investigation.
Only two individuals, both of whom were flight attendants, survived the incident after the plane belly-landed and collided with a barrier on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 179 out of 181 people aboard.
Furthermore, a comprehensive inspection to ensure the safety of military aircraft is currently in progress, as the defense ministry has mandated a review of all military aircraft following the tragic Jeju Air crash, as stated by officials on Tuesday.
The Navy has initiated a safety inspection that will continue through Saturday, assessing its aircraft, including the P-8A maritime patrol plane, which is based on the Boeing 737-800 commercial jet.
The Navy had recently completed the acquisition of six P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft in July, enhancing its anti-submarine capabilities.
The Air Force has also commenced inspections of its aircraft, including the Peace Eye airborne control aircraft, which is modeled after the Boeing 737-700 commercial plane.
On Monday, the government announced plans to conduct a safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines following the tragic Jeju Air plane crash in the southwestern county of Muan that resulted in 179 casualties.
