A devastating plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday resulted in the deaths of 179 people, with only two survivors. The Jeju Air flight, carrying 181 passengers and crew, crashed while landing, marking the deadliest airline disaster of the year.
The Boeing 737-800, which departed from Bangkok, Thailand, encountered difficulties during its landing approach. According to South Korean officials, the pilot issued a mayday call following a bird strike alert. The aircraft was then instructed to switch runways, but failed to lower landing gear on the second approach, striking a safety system and crashing into a wall.
The plane skidded along the runway before bursting into flames, a video confirmed. Despite the efforts of firefighters who extinguished the blaze, the damage was extensive. A total of 179 fatalities were confirmed. The survivors, both crew members, sustained injuries but were conscious when rescued.
Investigations into the accident are underway, with authorities having retrieved both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. The investigation is expected to take between six months and three years. The South Korean government has declared the site a special disaster zone, with emergency response teams and military personnel mobilized to assist.
Jeju Air’s CEO expressed deep remorse, offering condolences to the victims' families, and pledged full support for those affected by the tragedy. Boeing also released a statement expressing condolences. Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, involving over 1,500 personnel from various agencies.
