Plane Crash
SEOUL: At least 85 people lost their lives when an airliner veered off the runway, crashed into a wall, and erupted into a fireball at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on Sunday, according to the national fire agency.
The crash occurred at approximately 9 a.m. as Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land. The flight was carrying 181 people, including 175 passengers and six crew members.
The South Korean transport ministry confirmed the fatalities, making this the deadliest air accident involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades. Firefighters extinguished the flames by 1 p.m., with Muan Fire Chief Lee Jung-hyun describing the aircraft as “almost unrecognizable except for the tail section.”
Two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section and are being treated for severe injuries.
Rescue operations have transitioned to recovery efforts due to the force of the impact, which may have thrown bodies into nearby areas. At least 58 bodies have been recovered, though authorities warn the death toll is likely to rise.
Video footage shared by local media shows the twin-engine Boeing 737-800 skidding down the runway without landing gear before colliding with a wall and exploding.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction, a theory supported by a passenger’s text message indicating a bird was stuck in the wing. The passenger’s chilling final message read, “Should I say my last words?”
Jeju Air, the operator of the 2009-manufactured plane, expressed deep regret over the tragedy. Boeing also extended condolences to the victims’ families and stated its readiness to assist in the investigation.
South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok visited the crash site, pledging full government support for the recovery and investigation efforts.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also expressed condolences, instructing the foreign ministry to assist Thai nationals affected by the crash.
All flights at Muan International Airport have been suspended as authorities investigate the disaster, which marks South Korea’s most significant aviation tragedy since the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam.
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