- विज्ञापन -
Seoul: A passenger jet crash in southwest South Korea has resulted in the deaths of 179 people on board, with only two crew members rescued, according to multiple media reports citing fire authorities.
The authorities confirmed that by 8:38 p.m. local time, they had recovered the bodies of the victims, marking this incident as the deadliest air disaster in South Korea’s modern history since a 1993 crash that killed 66 people.
The aircraft, a Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, was attempting to land at Muan International Airport, located about 290 km southwest of Seoul, when it crashed. There were 175 passengers, including 173 South Koreans and two Thais, along with six flight attendants on board.
The Boeing 737-800 landed without its wheels, skidded off the runway, struck the outer wall, broke apart, and caught fire. Only two crew members were rescued from the rear of the aircraft, which suffered significant damage.
Fire authorities suspect that a bird strike may have caused a landing gear failure, leading to the crash. After an initial landing attempt, the plane went around due to the suspected malfunction and made a second attempt, resulting in a belly landing.
Television footage captured large plumes of black smoke and flames engulfing the aircraft, with one clip showing smoke and flames emitting from the right wing’s engine prior to landing.
An official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated that both flight data and voice recorders have been retrieved for investigation. The ministry anticipates that determining the exact cause of the crash could take months or even years.
In response to the tragedy, South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok announced a week-long national mourning period, effective until midnight on January 4. During this time, joint memorial altars will be established in 17 cities and provinces to honor the victims. Civil servants across ministries and public institutions will wear mourning ribbons, and Choi vowed to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent future incidents. He also declared Muan County a special disaster area to facilitate support for the victims’ families and the injured.
