Muan Airport in southwestern South Korea will remain closed until January 14, a week longer than planned, as investigations continue into the crash of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 that killed 179 people on December 29, authorities announced Monday.
According to the Yonhap news agency, the last bodies of the victims of the disaster will be returned to the families involved on Monday. After a week of waiting, they can then arrange the burial of their loved ones.
The Boeing 737-800 low-cost carrier Jeju Air failed to stop at Muan airport on December 29 and crashed into a wall. Of the 181 people on board, 179 people died. Only a flight attendant and stewardess survived the crash. The plane carried mainly South Koreans returning from vacation and two Thai nationals.
The causes of the crash are still unknown. Investigators believe birds and faulty landing gear played a role. The presence of a concrete structure so close to the end of the runway also raises questions. Since the crash, South Korean and American investigators, including Boeing representatives, have combed the area for clues.