On the morning of December 29, 2024, tragedy struck at Muan International Airport, South Korea, when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 individuals, crashed upon landing, resulting in significant casualties.
Shortly after 9 AM local time, the aircraft, which had just returned from Bangkok, Thailand, lost control, veered off the runway, struck a concrete wall, and erupted in flames. Eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports estimated at least 179 fatalities, sparking nationwide grief and urgent response from local authorities.
The flight had 175 passengers and six crew members on board—173 South Koreans and two Thais. Amid the chaos, only two individuals—both crew members—were successfully rescued, and their conditions remain undisclosed.
Local fire officials reported, "The fire from the collision has nearly completely destroyed the aircraft,” as images from the scene depicted flames engulfing the wreckage, with only the tail remaining intact. Emergency personnel quickly deployed more than 80 firefighters and rescue teams to the site, working tirelessly under fading conditions.
The accident is believed to have stemmed from landing gear failure, with initial investigations indicating possible causes including malfunction during descent or even collision with birds on approach. Eyewitness videos captured the moments leading up to the crash, showing the plane touching down without its landing gear, skidding along the runway before crashing.
Responding to the emergency, acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok stressed the importance of swift rescue efforts, ordering, "Maximum efforts for rescuing the victims,” and the mobilization of all available resources.
Authorities quickly established emergency response protocols to manage the situation. A special task force has been set up to conduct thorough investigations and assist victims’ families. Various government agencies are coordinating to both address immediate humanitarian needs and begin formal inquiries to ascertain the crash's root causes.
Rescue operations have been focusing on the tail section of the aircraft, identified as the least affected region, as crews sought to locate potential survivors amid the debris. The conditions at Muan airport have since forced its closure for all landings and takeoffs, as crews continue to assess the incident's aftermath.
This crash marks one of the most devastating aviation accidents South Korea has seen, drawing intensified scrutiny on aviation safety standards and the mechanical integrity of commercial airline fleets.
Public sentiment surrounding the incident has prompted citizens and families of potential victims to congregate at hospitals and the airport, awaiting news of their loved ones. The psychological toll is heightened as national television broadcasts images of the devastation and accounts from shocked witnesses.
Officials are facing increasing pressure for transparency about the short and long-term conclusions from investigations. With South Korea's aviation safety among the best historically, this incident poses serious questions about oversight and maintenance protocols, especially concerning the aging fleet of regional aircraft.
The focus now turns to the immediate and pressing needs of those affected families and ensuring rigorous investigative standards are met to prevent such tragedies in the future. Authorities call for patience and support during this trying time.
