Two more US investigators join on-site probe of Jeju Air crash in Muan

Investigators conduct an on-site investigation at the scene of the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport in Muan, Dec. 31. Yonhap

Two additional investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have joined the on-site probe into the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport, government sources said Wednesday.

With these additions, the number of the U.S. team members increased to 10, including five from NTSB and four from aviation manufacturer Boeing.

According to the sources, the U.S. team expanded its presence to ensure a thorough examination of the accident.

The U.S. team arrived in Korea on Monday and traveled directly to Muan, where it commenced its joint investigation with the Korean team led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport the following day.

During their initial joint on-site investigation, investigators focused on a navigation system that assists in aircraft landings, known as a localizer.

The localizer, installed on a concrete structure, at Muan International Airport has been blamed for exacerbating the severity of casualties in the Jeju Air crash.

The Jeju Air B737-800 aircraft belly-landed at the airport and exploded Sunday as it crashed into the structure, claiming 179 lives out of 181 passengers on board. (Yonhap)