A Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air crashed on Sunday morning at Muan International Airport in South Korea, with 179 people feared dead. The plane, carrying 181 passengers, including six crew members, was on a flight from Bangkok to Muan, when it slid off the runway during landing and burst into flames.
Harrowing Footage Captures the Incident
A disturbing video captures the twin-engine aircraft attempting a belly landing–without its landing gear fully extended-before crashing into a wall. Moments later, the plane caught fire, filling the sky with thick black smoke. Fire engulfed parts of the aircraft as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
Rescue Efforts Underway
Two survivors have been rescued so far, a passenger and a flight attendant. Rescue teams are evacuating passengers from the rear section of the jet. Emergency services were quickly mobilised, including 32 fire trucks and dozens of firefighters, soon after the crash occurred around 9 a.m.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
Jeju Airline flight from Bangkok attempts a belly landing in South Korea and explodes. 28 confirmed dead so far. This would be the third fatal civilian aeroplane crash these last couple of weeks after the ones in Brazil and Kazakhstan. pic.twitter.com/4felJj3CJb
— Ork on the WAAAGHpath (@ZedSignBot) December 29, 2024
Possible Cause of the Crash
Preliminary investigations indicate that it might have been a result of bird strikes that may have caused a failure of the landing gear. Acting President Choi Sang-Mok of South Korea called for an all-out rescue effort and ordered agencies to put life-saving efforts as top priority. His chief of staff summoned an emergency meeting over the crisis.
Yonhap News Agency is reporting a Jeju Air 737 went off the runway after landing in Muan. This appears to be #7C2216 from Bangkok operated by a 737-800. https://t.co/Nyf9IuyxmA https://t.co/QkNX4B8eNF pic.twitter.com/LCIUktDbHN
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 29, 2024
This devastating incident marks one of the deadliest aviation accidents in South Korea’s recent history, with the nation mourning the tragedy as rescue operations continue.
