I79 People Killed As Jeju Air Plane Crashes While Landing In South Korea

At least 179 people lost their lives in a tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea, marking one of the country’s worst aviation disasters.

The incident occurred on Sunday at 9:03 a.m. local time (00:03 GMT) when a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, Thailand, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, attempted to land. The Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway, crashed into a perimeter wall, and exploded into flames.

Out of the 181 people on board, only two cabin crew members survived, rescued from the burning wreckage. The remaining passengers, mostly South Koreans and two Thai nationals, were aged between 3 and 78, with many in their 40s to 60s.

Family members, devastated by the news, gathered at the airport’s arrival hall, waiting for updates and body identifications. Some victims could only be identified through fingerprints.

One grieving relative, 78-year-old Maeng Gi-su, revealed that his nephew and the nephew’s two sons were on their first international trip to celebrate the youngest son completing his college entrance exams.

Footage of the crash showed the plane landing without its landing gear deployed, overshooting the runway, and crashing into a wall before bursting into flames.

The pilot, with over 6,800 hours of experience, had initially aborted the landing due to interference from birds. Shortly after, they issued a mayday call and attempted an emergency landing, which ended in disaster.

Early reports suggest the birds may have caused damage to the landing gear, with one passenger messaging a family member about a bird being stuck in the wing.

This tragedy comes during a politically turbulent time for South Korea, with the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, newly appointed after the impeachment of President Yoon.

Choi visited the crash site, offering condolences to the victims and pledging support for the injured.

The crash is Jeju Air’s first fatal accident since its establishment in 2005 and the worst aviation disaster involving a South Korean airline since a 1997 crash in Guam that claimed over 200 lives.

Jeju Air executives issued a public apology, bowing deeply during a press conference and committing to resolving the situation.

Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, stated it is in contact with the airline to assist in the investigation.

This comes a few days after the South Korean National Assembly impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo, who also serves as the country’s prime minister.