Jeju Air flight returns to Gimpo Airport following landing gear issue amid safety concerns: New updates

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 was forced to return to Seoul's Gimpo International Airport on Monday morning after experiencing a landing gear problem, raising safety concerns just a day after a fatal crash involving another aircraft of the same model.

Flight 7C101, en route to Jeju Island, departed at 6:37 a.m. but returned to Gimpo at 7:25 a.m. due to a technical issue detected shortly after takeoff. Jeju Air's management confirmed the problem during a news conference.

"At 6:57 a.m., the captain communicated with ground control.

The incident comes in the wake of a tragic crash on Sunday involving another Jeju Air Boeing 737-800.

The aircraft, traveling from Thailand to South Korea, crashed near Muan, bursting into flames after a reported landing gear malfunction. The crash claimed the lives of all aboard Flight 2216 except two cabin crew members who were rescued.

In response, South Korean authorities announced a comprehensive inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating in the country. The inspection will involve U.S. investigators, potentially including Boeing representatives.

The airline has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation and address any safety issues identified during inspections.

As investigations into both incidents continue, the aviation community awaits further updates on the technical issues and any potential implications for the Boeing 737-800 fleet globally.