Tragic Plane Crash in South Korea Claims 179 Lives

A devastating incident unfolded on Sunday morning as a passenger plane carrying 181 people belly-landed and crashed at Muan International Airport in southwestern South Korea, resulting in the tragic loss of 179 lives.

Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which had departed from Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew members, was attempting to land when the disaster occurred around 9 a.m. Local media footage captured the Boeing 737-800 skidding across the runway, its landing gear still retracted, before colliding head-on with a concrete fence and erupting into flames. The explosion left only the tail of the aircraft recognizable.

The National Fire Agency reported that following the collision, passengers were ejected from the plane, leaving “almost no possibility of survival.” Emergency responders managed to rescue two crew members, who are currently conscious and not in critical condition.

Ju Jong-wan, a senior official at the Ministry of Land, Traffic and Infrastructure, revealed that the control tower had issued a bird strike warning shortly before the pilots declared a mayday. This was followed by the aircraft’s ill-fated attempt to belly land.

“Bird strike and landing gear malfunction are being considered as potential causes of the accident, but a thorough investigation is necessary to ascertain the true cause,” Ju stated, noting that authorities are analyzing both black boxes from the wreckage.

One of the rescued crew members reported that a bird strike occurred just minutes prior to the crash, leading to engine smoke and an explosion. A passenger also texted a relative, mentioning a bird lodged in the wing, with a haunting final message: “Should I say my last words?”

This tragic event marks the deadliest aviation accident in South Korean history, surpassing the 2002 Air China crash that claimed 129 lives. It also stands as the worst incident involving a South Korean airline since a 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that resulted in over 200 fatalities.

The crash represents a grim milestone for Jeju Air, a low-cost carrier established in 2005, marking its first fatal accident. Jeju Air CEO Kim Yi-bae expressed profound sorrow, stating, “We sincerely apologize to all those suffering because of the accident at Muan International Airport. I extend my deepest condolences to the victims and their families. We will cooperate with the government to determine the cause.”