A devastating plane crash in South Korea on Sunday morning has resulted in the deaths of 179 people, marking the deadliest aviation disaster in the country’s history. The Jeju Air flight, which was traveling from Bangkok, Thailand, crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in the southwest of the country.
The Boeing 737-800, which was carrying 181 people, went off the runway before colliding with a wall, erupting into flames. Two crew members were rescued from the wreckage, but all 175 passengers and four other crew members aboard the flight perished. The official death toll stands at 179, with five victims reported to be children under the age of 10. The youngest was a three-year-old boy, and the oldest was 78.
The flight, 7C2216, was initially scheduled to land at Muan around 9:00 AM local time. However, the plane was forced to hold off on its approach after air traffic control issued a warning about a potential bird strike, a common hazard for aircraft. Shortly after, the pilot called in a Mayday distress signal, requesting to land from the opposite direction.
A passenger aboard the flight reportedly messaged a relative, saying that a bird had become lodged in the plane’s wing, preventing a safe landing. Video footage from the scene shows the plane touching down without landing gear, skidding along the runway before crashing into a wall and bursting into flames.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a “loud bang” followed by explosions, and video footage showed smoke billowing from the wreckage. Rescue teams arrived quickly, but the crash site was difficult to navigate. Lee Jeong-hyun, chief of the Muan fire department, stated that the tail section of the plane was identifiable, but the rest of the aircraft was unrecognizable. Fire officials have indicated that the crash may have been caused by the bird strike and adverse weather conditions, though investigations are ongoing.
The flight’s voice and flight recorders have been recovered, which may provide further insight into the cause of the crash. Authorities confirmed that the head pilot had over 6,800 hours of flight experience and had been with Jeju Air since 2019.
The victims included 175 South Korean passengers and six crew members. Two Thai nationals were among those on board. Many of the passengers were likely returning from the Christmas holiday season in Thailand.
In response to the tragedy, acting President Choi Sang-mok declared a special disaster zone in Muan, providing government assistance to local authorities and the victims’ families. A period of national mourning has been declared for the next seven days, with flags at government offices lowered in remembrance.
Jeju Air has expressed its condolences and assured the public that the crash was not caused by maintenance issues. Boeing, the plane’s manufacturer, also offered condolences to the victims’ families. The airline’s CEO stated that Sunday’s crash was the only fatal accident in Jeju Air’s history since its founding in 2005.
The government is continuing its recovery efforts, with more than 1,500 emergency personnel deployed. Families of the victims are gathering at Muan Airport, where officials are reading the names of the deceased. Tents have been set up for bereaved families to grieve in private as they await further information.
