A passenger plane operated by Jeju Air crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning, resulting in what authorities are calling one of South Korea's deadliest aviation disasters. Reports indicate the plane, which had 181 people on board, attempted to land at approximately 9:03 AM local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy.
The flight, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, veered off the runway and collided with a concrete wall at the airport, leading to flames and debris scattered across the site. Rescue efforts are currently underway; tragically, the national fire agency has reported at least 62 fatalities, with only two survivors rescued from the wreckage.
Lee Jeong-hyun, the chief of the Muan fire department, spoke to the press shortly after the incident. He stated, "One cannot recognise the shape of the rest of the plane," highlighting the severity of the damage. Initial investigations point to possible causes, including bad weather conditions and a suspected bird strike, which may have contributed to the malfunction of the landing gear.
Eyewitnesses reported chaos as the aircraft skidded down the runway before erupting in flames. Emergency crews have been able to evacuate some passengers from the rear section of the jet, but officials warned the number of casualties could rise. Lee Hyeon-ji, another responder at the scene, cautioned, "The tally could rise due to the critically injured."
Jeju Air has expressed its heartfelt apologies to the public, stating, "Our first priority is to do everything possible to manage this incident. We sincerely apologise for causing concern." Following the crash, the airline's website adopted a minimalist black design, likely as part of its response to this tragic event, and it temporarily halted flight bookings.
Images from the crash site show emergency workers battling flames as smoke billows from the wreckage. Video recordings circulated on social media display the terrifying moments just before impact, capturing the aircraft desperately skidding toward the wall with landing gear visibly absent.
Further complications arose as authorities worked to retrieve people trapped within the fuselage, focusing their efforts on the tail section, where it was believed more survivors could be located. The national fire agency reported they had recovered around 58 bodies, but the search continues amid mounting fears of more fatalities.
Rescue operations were met with urgency from governmental officials. Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who took office just days before the incident, ordered all available resources be mobilised to assist with the rescue operations, saying, "All related agencies must mobilise all available resources to save the personnel." He also indicated his intentions to visit the crash site personally to oversee the operations.
Tragedy struck several passengers who managed to text their families during the ordeal. One passenger relayed the harrowing message, "Should I say my last words?" to relatives before losing communication. Such accounts depict the deep emotional impact this incident has on families waiting for news about their loved ones.
The crash marks the first fatal incident for Jeju Air since its inception, raising heightened concerns about aviation safety procedures within the country. Historically, South Korea's aviation record has been relatively safe. Previously, it had experienced minor incidents, such as one involving strong winds affecting another flight, but nothing on this scale.
While investigations are still developing, officials have indicated possible equipment failures as well as adverse environmental conditions.
