A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people veered off the runway and erupted in flames at Muan International Airport in South Korea, with 179 people feared dead.
The accident occurred at 9:07 a.m. as the Jeju Air flight attempted to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul. The aircraft, carrying 175 passengers—173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals—and six crew members, had departed from Bangkok, Thailand.
"Of the 181 people onboard, nearly all are believed to have perished, except for two survivors who were rescued," a Jeonnam Provincial Fire Department official said. "Many were ejected from the aircraft upon impact, leaving little chance of survival. The plane's fuselage has been completely destroyed, making victim identification extremely challenging."
By 4:20 p.m., South Korea's National Fire Agency confirmed 127 fatalities.
Eyewitness Accounts and Initial Investigation
Video footage from MBC shows the plane landing on its belly, skidding along the runway, crashing into a barrier, and bursting into flames. Yonhap News Agency suggested the incident might have been caused by a "bird strike" that damaged the landing gear.
An onboard passenger reportedly sent a message to a family member moments before the crash: "A bird is stuck on the plane's wing, and we can't land. Should I say my last goodbyes?" The message was sent at 9 a.m., and the family has been unable to contact the passenger since.
Flight 7C2216, the ill-fated aircraft, departed from Bangkok at 1:30 a.m. and was scheduled to land at Muan at 8:30 a.m.
"The aircraft initially attempted to land on Runway 01 but appeared to encounter issues, prompting a go-around maneuver. On its second attempt, the crew opted for a belly landing due to a malfunctioning landing gear. However, the plane failed to decelerate and skidded off the runway," an official at the scene explained.
Government and Airline Responses
Acting President Choi Sang-mok visited the crash site and urged rescue teams to maximize efforts to save lives. South Korean authorities have set up an emergency response center at Muan Airport, while investigators from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Committee (ARIC) are examining the site.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm the presence of Thai citizens on the flight.
Background on Jeju Air
Jeju Air, a South Korean budget airline, primarily operates Boeing 737-800 aircraft and serves routes between South Korea and Southeast Asia.
One passenger who had traveled on the same plane two days earlier reported mechanical issues prior to departure from Bangkok but said the flight eventually landed safely at Muan. "I noticed several engine malfunctions and informed the crew, but they assured us everything was fine," the passenger recalled.
Two survivors have been transported to a hospital in Mokpo, South Korea, for treatment.
Post a Comment