At least 85 people died in a tragic aviation disaster which occurred on Sunday when a passenger plane skidded off the runway at a South Korean airport and crashed into a concrete fence, bursting into flames.
The incident was reportedly one of the worst in the country’s aviation history.
The National Fire Agency reported that the Jeju Air plane, carrying 181 people, went off the runway at Muan airport, located about 290 kilometers south of Seoul, after its front landing gear apparently failed to deploy.
The crash occurred at 9:03 a.m. local time.
Among the dead were 46 women and 39 men, and despite the devastation, rescuers were able to save two people, both crew members, who remained conscious.
The fire department deployed 32 fire trucks and helicopters to contain the blaze.
Footage from YTN television captured the plane skidding across the airstrip with its landing gear apparently still retracted before crashing into a concrete wall. Other stations showed thick black smoke rising from the burning wreckage.
The plane was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet that was returning from Bangkok. Emergency workers are still searching through the wreckage, with the plane being completely destroyed except for the recognizable tail assembly.
Authorities are investigating several possible causes for the crash, including the possibility of a bird strike that could have caused mechanical issues.
Lee Jeong-hyeon, the chief of Muan fire station, confirmed the ongoing search and said the fire had made it difficult for rescue teams.
The Transport Ministry, which has identified two Thai nationals on board, is looking into the cause of the crash.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended her condolences to the families of the victims and assured that assistance would be provided immediately.
Jeju Air issued a statement expressing its “deep apology” and pledged to manage the aftermath of the tragedy.
This accident marks one of South Korea’s deadliest aviation incidents since the 1997 Korean Airlines crash in Guam, which claimed 228 lives.
It is also one of the most significant landing mishaps since a 2007 crash in Sao Paulo, which resulted in 187 fatalities.
This tragedy comes at a time of political turmoil in South Korea, where the government is dealing with a political crisis involving President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law and the subsequent impeachment of acting President Han Duck-soo.
Following the crash, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok ordered all available resources to be used for rescue efforts and immediately headed to Muan. President Yoon’s office announced an emergency meeting to discuss the incident.
