A passenger plane burst into flames after skidding off a runway at Muan Airport in South Korea, slamming into a concrete fence when its front landing gear failed to deploy. The crash has claimed at least 167 lives, making it one of the worst aviation disasters in the country’s history, officials said.
The National Fire Agency reported that the fire was nearly extinguished, but rescuers were still working to pull survivors from the wreckage of the Jeju Air plane, which was carrying 181 people. The crash occurred around 9:03 a.m. local time, with the Boeing 737-800 jet completely destroyed except for its tail section.
Among the confirmed victims were 79 men, 77 women, and 11 others whose genders were not immediately identifiable. The death toll is expected to rise as several passengers remain missing six hours after the incident.
Two crew members were rescued alive but are in critical condition. Rescuers expressed little hope of finding additional survivors, despite deploying 32 fire trucks and several helicopters to the scene.
Footage aired by local television showed the aircraft skidding across the runway with its landing gear closed before crashing into a concrete wall. Thick black smoke billowed from the wreckage, engulfed in flames.
Authorities are investigating potential causes of the crash, including mechanical failure and a possible bird strike. The Transport Ministry confirmed that government investigators were on site to determine the cause of the crash and subsequent fire.
In a televised statement, Jeju Air President Kim E-bae offered a deep apology to the victims’ families, taking full responsibility for the tragedy. He stated that the plane had undergone regular maintenance without any reported mechanical issues prior to the crash.
Chief of Muan Fire Station Lee Jeong-hyeon described the extensive damage, noting that rescue workers were still recovering bodies scattered by the impact. Emergency officials suspect the plane’s landing gear malfunctioned, leading to the catastrophic accident.
The incident has left the nation in shock, with ongoing efforts to uncover the full details behind the tragedy.
