At least 179 people, including four crew members, were killed after a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 burst into flames after crashing at South Korea's Muan International Airport on Sunday. According to fire authorities, all 175 who died were passengers and only two of the six-member crew, survived the crash, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the country's history.
The 15-year-old plane, Jeju Air flight 7C 2216, a Boeing 737-800 jet, originated from Bangkok in Thailand, and veered off the runway, apparently with its landing gear still closed. The aircraft struck a concrete fence while attempting to land at 9.07 am (local time) at the southwestern coastal airport. Officials suspect a landing gear failure, possibly due to a bird strike, may have caused the accident.
The aircraft burst into flames on impact, with smoke and fire engulfing parts of the plane, as shown in images and videos shared on social media. "Passengers were ejected from the aircraft after it collided with the barrier, leaving little chance of survival," a local fire official said at a press briefing.
According to South Korea's National Fire Agency, 179 passengers died in the fire. Emergency workers rescued two people - both of whom are crew members - who were found conscious and not in life-threatening condition in rescue operations that spanned for over 12 hours after the incident, reported The Associated Press. Two Thai passengers who were on board the ill-fated flight were among those killed, Thailand's Foreign Ministry said.
"There were 175 passengers and six crew members aboard the plane," Yonhap reported, adding that 173 passengers were South Koreans and two were Thai nationals.
Rescue efforts have transitioned into recovery operations to locate and retrieve the bodies of those still missing, authorities said.
“The plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail assembly remaining recognisable among the wreckage,” Lee Jeong-hyeon, chief of the Muan fire station, said during a televised briefing.
Workers retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the plane's black box, which will be examined by government experts investigating the cause of the crash and fire, Senior Transport Ministry official Joo Jong-wan said, adding that the probe could take many months. The Muan airport's runway will remain closed until January 1, 2025, according to the ministry.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences to the victims’ families in a post on X and ordered immediate assistance.
Kerati Kijmanawat, the director of Airports of Thailand, confirmed that the flight departed from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport with no reports of abnormal conditions with the aircraft or on the runway.
Jeju Air issued a statement offering its "deep apology" for the tragedy and pledged to do its "utmost to manage the aftermath of the accident".
In a statement on X, Boeing said it was in contact with Jeju Air and was ready to support the company in dealing with the crash. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew," the company said.
Acting President Choi Sung-mok, who assumed leadership on Friday amid a massive political upheaval in South Korea, directed government agencies to prioritise rescue efforts. He said the country will observe a week-long mourning period, The New York Times reported.
Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean President impeached by Parliament for his move to impose a short-lived martial law, said he was devastated by the accident.
This marks the first major incident at Muan International Airport, a crucial regional hub in South Jeolla province. An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash, reported Yonhap.
Suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol’s office said his chief secretary will preside over an emergency meeting between senior presidential staff later on Sunday to discuss the crash, reported The Associated Press.
The incident follows a turbulent week for global aviation. On December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines jet crash-landed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 on board.
The plane is believed to have come under fire from Russian air defence en route to the Chechen capital of Grozny - forcing it to divert. Russian President Vladimir Putin later apologised to his Azerbaijani counterpart over the downing of the commercial airliner in Russian airspace.