"During the Sewol Ferry Disaster, Aircraft Pilots Also Did Not Communicate"...SACHAMWI Requests Investigation

Park Byung-woo, Director of the Sewol Ferry Disaster Truth Investigation Bureau, is speaking at a press conference requesting an investigation into the initial maritime police air deployment forces during the Sewol Ferry disaster, held on the afternoon of the 30th at the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters in Jung-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters (SICSD) has requested the prosecution to investigate the pilots of the aircraft dispatched during the Sewol ferry disaster on charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury, stating that they did not even attempt basic communication with the ferry for rescue operations.

On the 30th, SICSD held a press conference at Post Tower in Jung-gu, Seoul, stating, "The pilots of the Korea Coast Guard aircraft who arrived at the scene during the Sewol ferry disaster testified that 'they did not know that many passengers were on board until the Sewol completely capsized, so they could not conduct a rescue.' However, the assumption that there were no passengers on the large passenger ship is a statement difficult to accept from a common-sense perspective," and added, "Based on Article 28, Paragraph 2 of the 'Special Act on the Investigation of Social Disasters and the Construction of a Safe Society,' we request the prosecution to investigate."

SICSD recently conducted an investigation into the appropriateness of the initial response by the Coast Guard and related agencies during the disaster. Various methods were employed, including testimony from Coast Guard personnel, surviving cargo drivers, survivors from Danwon High School and the general public, as well as analysis of communication records from Coast Guard aircraft and other sources. Park Byung-woo, Director of the Sewol Disaster Truth Investigation Bureau, stated, "There were numerous communications on the equipment that was required to be monitored from the aircraft at the time, which indicated that many passengers were on board the Sewol," and "We have secured audio files of communications that directly mention the number of passengers or confirm that many passengers were on the Sewol."

Director Park further stated, "In maritime accidents, it is a fundamental procedure for rescue forces to communicate with the distressed vessel to obtain necessary information," and "Nevertheless, the captains of the aircraft did not communicate with the Sewol while taking off and en route to the scene, nor did they instruct the co-pilots to do so, which appears to constitute professional negligence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.