A devastating plane crash involving a Jeju Air flight has claimed the lives of 179 out of 181 people onboard, marking one of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disasters. The Boeing 737-800, operating as Flight 2216, crash-landed at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning, skidding off the runway and exploding into flames upon impact.
The flight, returning from Bangkok, Thailand, carried 175 passengers and six crew members. Only two cabin crew members survived the crash, pulled from the burning wreckage with injuries. Most passengers were South Korean nationals, aged between 3 and 78, along with two Thai nationals. Many were holidaymakers, with families now gathered at the airport awaiting the identification of victims.
Footage of the crash shows the aircraft landing without its wheels, overshooting the runway, and crashing into the airport’s perimeter wall before erupting in flames. Early reports suggest the plane faced difficulties during its approach, with the pilot aborting the initial landing attempt due to bird interference. The pilot, who had over 6,800 hours of flight experience, issued a Mayday call before the ill-fated emergency landing.
Officials suspect that birds may have become lodged in the aircraft’s mechanical systems, potentially causing a malfunction with the landing gear. South Korean media reported that one passenger had sent a message to a relative, mentioning a bird being stuck in the wing.
The crash has shocked South Korea, a nation already grappling with political turmoil after the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol and his temporary successor. Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who was appointed only two days prior, visited the crash site and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
Jeju Air, established in 2005, is one of South Korea’s largest low-cost airlines and had maintained a strong safety record until this tragedy. The company held a press conference on Sunday, with executives bowing deeply as they issued a public apology.
“We deeply apologise to all those affected by the incident. We will make every effort to resolve the situation,” Jeju Air said in a statement.
The crash is the worst for a South Korean airline since the 1997 Korean Air disaster in Guam, which claimed over 200 lives. It is also the deadliest on South Korean soil since the Air China crash in 2002, which killed 129 people.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the 737-800 jet, announced it was in touch with Jeju Air and authorities. Transport officials confirmed that an investigation is underway, with both local and international teams expected to participate in determining the cause of the crash.