Tragic Plane Incident in South Korea: Casualties Rise to 47

Seoul, Dec 29 (NationPress) A tragic event has unfolded as at least 47 passengers have perished when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 carrying over 170 individuals erupted in flames upon landing at Muan Airport in southern South Korea on Sunday, officials stated.

The aircraft, returning from Bangkok, skidded off the runway and crashed into a fence, igniting a catastrophic fire. Local television footage captured thick black smoke rising from the burning aircraft, with flames consuming much of its structure.

The emergency response team reported that rescuers were working diligently to evacuate passengers from the debris. Currently, one survivor has been located, and efforts to find others are still underway.

The unfortunate flight had a total of at least 175 passengers and six crew members.

Initial assessments suggest that the crash may have been triggered by bird strikes leading to faulty landing gear.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has urged for the mobilization of all resources to save lives. "All relevant agencies must deploy every available resource to aid those in need," he stated in a formal announcement.

This heartbreaking event has plunged the nation into mourning as rescue operations persist under difficult conditions.

This marks the second such tragedy within a week.

Earlier, on Wednesday, an Embraer passenger jet crashed close to the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on December 25, resulting in the deaths of 38 individuals, after diverting from an area in Russia that has recently faced Ukrainian drone strikes.

29 survivors were treated in hospitals.

Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 strayed hundreds of miles from its intended route while flying from Azerbaijan to Russia, ultimately crashing on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea. Russia's aviation authority indicated that the emergency might have been precipitated by a bird strike.