A passenger jet carrying 181 individuals, including six crew members, erupted in flames after veering off the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday (29 Dec).
All but two people onboard are presumed killed. Authorities earlier confirmed 62 fatalities and warned that the death toll could rise further, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The incident occurred at 9:07 a.m. local time when the Jeju Air flight, returning from Bangkok, failed to land properly and collided with a fence wall. The airport is located in South Jeolla Province, approximately 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul.
Initial investigations revealed that the aircraft attempted to land without its landing gear deployed, skidding along the ground before crashing into a concrete wall and exploding. Dramatic footage aired by local broadcasters showed the devastating impact, with the plane consumed by flames and almost entirely destroyed in the explosion.
Most passengers aboard the flight were South Korean nationals, with two Thai nationals among them. Only one passenger and one crew member have been rescued so far.
Emergency services, including 80 firefighters, responded swiftly to extinguish the fire and launch search and rescue operations at the crash site. Authorities are continuing their efforts to locate survivors amidst the wreckage.
Officials suspect that a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to fail, contributing to the disaster. An on-site investigation is underway to confirm the exact cause of the accident.
South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok has directed officials to prioritise rescue operations and provide all possible support to those affected. Choi is en route to the crash site to oversee the response efforts.
The presidential office announced that an emergency meeting of senior officials, chaired by Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk, would be held at 11:30 a.m. to coordinate government measures. Meanwhile, Acting National Police Agency Commissioner-General Lee Ho-young has instructed the mobilisation of all available resources and coordination with firefighting and emergency agencies to aid rescue efforts.
