Tragic Plane Disaster in South Korea: 179 Lives Lost, Two Survivors
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Seoul, Dec 29 (NationPress) A passenger aircraft carrying 181 individuals burst into flames after it strayed off the runway and collided with a wall at an airport in the southwestern region of Muan, South Korea, on Sunday, with authorities estimating that all but two are presumed dead.
The incident occurred at 9:07 a.m. when the Jeju Air flight veered off course during landing and struck a fence wall at Muan International Airport located in South Jeolla Province, approximately 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
Aside from the two individuals who were rescued from the wreckage, officials believe that all the other passengers are likely deceased, with firefighting teams transitioning to recovery operations, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
To date, authorities have confirmed that 85 fatalities have resulted from this tragedy.
Two survivors, one passenger and one crew member—both female—were rescued shortly after the incident and are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Mokpo.
The plane was carrying a total of 181 individuals, including six crew members, and was returning from Bangkok.
The majority of the passengers were South Korean, along with two individuals of Thai nationality.
Local television broadcasts featured footage of the plane attempting to land without its landing gear deployed. The aircraft skidded before crashing into a concrete wall, leading to a massive explosion and engulfing flames.
The explosion nearly obliterated the aircraft.
The South Jeolla authorities escalated emergency alerts to their highest levels, deploying all available rescue and law enforcement personnel to the scene.
Officials are investigating the possible causes of the accident, with initial theories suggesting that a landing gear failure, potentially triggered by a bird strike, may have contributed to the incident. An investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok reached the crash site around noon, directing officials to exert maximum efforts in search operations. He also conveyed profound condolences to the families of the victims and assured them of comprehensive government support.
The presidential office scheduled an emergency meeting of senior officials at 11:30 a.m. to deliberate on governmental measures concerning the plane crash. This meeting was to be chaired by the Presidential Chief of Staff, Chung Jin-suk.
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner-General Lee Ho-young additionally instructed officials to mobilize all available resources to collaborate with firefighting teams and other relevant agencies in the rescue efforts.
