A passenger plane crash at Muan International Airport on Sunday resulted in one of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disasters. The Jeju Air flight, arriving from Bangkok, skidded off the runway, collided with a concrete wall, and burst into flames, claiming the lives of 179 of the 181 people onboard.
The crash occurred at 9:03 a.m. local time, with preliminary reports suggesting that the aircraft’s front landing gear failed to deploy. The Boeing 737-800 jet, a 15-year-old aircraft, was completely destroyed in the fire, with only the tail section recognizable. Emergency workers rescued two crew members who survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
Emergency response teams, including over 1,500 firefighters, police officers, and soldiers, worked tirelessly to contain the blaze and recover victims. The South Korean Fire Agency confirmed that 177 bodies have been found, of which 88 have been identified. Most passengers were South Korean nationals, with two Thai citizens among the deceased.
Transport Ministry officials have recovered the plane’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders. Investigators are examining whether a bird strike, which prompted a warning from the control tower, contributed to the crash. A distress signal was sent by the pilot moments before the plane overran the runway.
South Korea has declared a week-long national mourning period, and Muan has been designated a special disaster zone. Leaders from around the world, including Pope Francis, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed their condolences to the victims’ families.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and officials from Airports of Thailand confirmed the flight departed without any reported issues. Jeju Air President Kim E-bae issued a public apology, promising full cooperation with the investigation.
This crash is among South Korea’s worst aviation disasters since a 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that claimed 228 lives. It also recalls similar incidents worldwide, including the 2010 Air India Express crash in Mangalore, India, which killed 158 people.
As investigators work to determine the cause of this tragic accident, the nation grapples with profound grief during its mourning period. Further updates on the investigation are expected in the coming weeks.