Seoul, South Korea — South Korea is reeling from its deadliest air disaster in decades after a passenger plane crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, killing 179 people. Only two crew members survived the tragic incident.
The Jeju Air flight 7C2216, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, was en route from Bangkok, Thailand, when it attempted to land at the airport located approximately 290 kilometers southwest of Seoul. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, crashed during its second landing attempt at around 9:03 a.m. local time.
Authorities believe a possible bird strike led to landing gear failure, causing the plane to attempt a belly landing. The aircraft skidded off the runway, collided with the outer wall, and broke in half before catching fire.
“We heard a loud explosion and saw black smoke rising from the airport,” said a local resident. “It’s a devastating scene.”
Footage from the crash site showed flames engulfing the wreckage, with thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Eyewitnesses reported seeing fire and smoke emitting from the plane’s right engine just before the crash.
Emergency responders recovered the bodies of 179 victims and rescued two crew members found at the rear of the aircraft. The majority of the passengers were South Korean nationals, along with two Thai citizens.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok declared a weeklong national mourning period until January 4, pledging full support to the victims’ families and a thorough investigation into the disaster. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy for our nation,” Choi said during a televised briefing. “We will do everything in our power to determine the cause and prevent such an accident from happening again.”
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has retrieved the flight data and voice recorders. Officials caution that the investigation could take months or even years to reveal the exact cause of the crash.
Muan county has been designated a special disaster area to facilitate support and recovery efforts. Memorial altars are being set up nationwide, and civil servants will wear mourning ribbons during the period of mourning.
This incident marks South Korea’s worst aviation disaster since 1993, when 66 people were killed in a plane crash. The tragedy has shocked the nation and prompted discussions on airline safety and emergency response protocols.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
