Families of Jeju Air Crash Victims Pursue Boeing for Safety Failures

In a significant legal move, the Herrmann Law Group, based in Seattle, has filed a lawsuit against Boeing on behalf of fourteen families who lost loved ones in the tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which occurred on December 29, 2024, at Muan International Airport in South Korea. This lawsuit claims that catastrophic failures in the aircraft's outdated electrical and hydraulic systems, originally designed in the 1960s, prevented the pilots from executing a safe landing.

The complaint filed in the King County Superior Court cites multiple defects within the aircraft’s design that have led to a deadly accident, arguing that Boeing's reluctance to modernize crucial systems has put lives at risk. Lead attorney Charles Herrmann stated, "Rather than admitting its fault in this tragic accident, Boeing resorts to its old, worn-out 'blame the pilots' tactic. These pilots make easy targets; they perished in the flames with the passengers. They cannot defend themselves."

As the lawsuit unfolds, it sheds light on the concerning decline in Boeing's commitment to safety over the years. The document traces this decline back to Boeing’s acquisition of McDonnell Douglas in 1997, when then-President Harry Stonecipher shifted the corporate culture from a traditional engineering ethos to a profit-driven approach. This pivotal change is viewed by many as the start of a significant departure from the safety-first culture that Boeing once upheld.

In addition to the cultural shifts at Boeing, the lawsuit alleges a lack of modernization in the aircraft's core systems. The complaint highlights that the electrical and hydraulic systems dating back to the early years of the 737 series have not seen significant upgrades since 2009. This oversight is particularly alarming considering the extreme conditions that modern aircraft systems must withstand.

On the ill-fated Flight 2216, complications arose when a bird strike occurred during the approach. DNA tests confirmed that the birds involved were Baikal teals, each weighing about one pound. The lawsuit asserts that, under U.S. regulations, the aircraft's engines should have been capable of withstanding such an incident without suffering a loss in thrust. Instead, the bird strike triggered a sequence of catastrophic failures within the aircraft's systems.

According to the complaint, following the bird strike, the pilots had to shut down the left engine and activate its fire extinguisher. The right engine's performance faltered, dropping to merely 55% thrust—barely adequate for maintaining altitude. Critical systems failed in tandem, including the generators that produce AC power and the aircraft’s batteries which couldn’t provide backup power. Alarmingly, essential equipment such as the Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder, and transponder all ceased functioning at once, further exacerbating the situation on board.

The failures extended to critical systems designed to slow the aircraft after landing, notably the landing gear, which failed to extend as expected. The malfunction of these integral systems made it impossible for the pilots to execute a safe landing. Although they managed to navigate the aircraft back towards the runway, the landing was doomed from the start: they touched down at nearly 175 mph, far too fast and at the wrong spot on a runway that stretched only 2,600 meters.

In a tragic finale, the aircraft overran the runway and struck a concrete berm, resulting in a devastating explosion. The lawsuit underlines the horrific loss of 179 lives as a result of these failures, demanding accountability from Boeing and transparency for the families who seek closure.

The Herrmann Law Group is no stranger to high-profile cases; the firm has represented victims in past air disasters, including the grievous incidents involving Korean Air and China Airlines. As the families take their fight for justice to the U.S. courts, many hope for a thorough investigation into the safety practices that led to this unimaginable tragedy. A full copy of the filed complaint is available for public access on the Herrmann Law Group’s website.