Seoul: An investigation into last December's Jeju Air plane crash has found that the aircraft's pilot mistakenly shut down the wrong engine, local media reported. The release of the report, initially scheduled for over the weekend, has faced delays due to heated protests from the families of the victims.

According to BBC, the families had been briefed on the findings earlier and accused investigators of pinning the blame solely on the pilot while ignoring other contributing factors. The aircraft's two engines were sent to France in March for analysis. Recent findings from South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board revealed that the pilot had incorrectly turned off the left engine—which had no defects—instead of the right engine, which was more severely damaged by a bird strike.

However, families of the victims argue that the report failed to mention the concrete barrier at the end of the runway, which they believe exacerbated the severity of the accident. "The bereaved families seek a fair and transparent investigation into the accident," they stated, urging investigators to conduct a press briefing "only after a full and careful examination has been completed."

In a statement on Sunday, the Jeju Air pilots' union also criticized the recent findings, alleging that it focused excessively on pilot misjudgment while downplaying other contributing factors. A source with knowledge of the probe, however, told Reuters that investigators would not alter their findings, citing "clear evidence and backup data."

Following the crash, South Korea's transport ministry announced in January that it would remove concrete barriers at seven airports. In May, the victims' families lodged a criminal complaint against Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae, accusing him of professional negligence. Mr. Kim is among 24 individuals currently under police investigation for their roles in the accident.