A Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people crashed during landing at Muan International Airport, resulting in at least 62 fatalities. Initial reports suggest that a bird strike may have caused a malfunction that prevented the plane from landing safely.**
Fatal Plane Crash at Muan Airport: A Comprehensive Overview**
Fatal Plane Crash at Muan Airport: A Comprehensive Overview**
A devastating plane crash involving Jeju Air claims numerous lives as investigations into the incident begin.**
A tragic plane crash occurred on December 29, 2024, at Muan International Airport in South Korea involving a Jeju Air flight returning from Bangkok. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operating as flight 7C2216, was attempting to land when it veered off the runway and collided with a wall near the runway's end. Local authorities have confirmed that so far, at least 62 people have been killed, and rescuers continue to search for additional survivors—132 individuals remain unaccounted for.
The incident took place around 9 a.m. local time. Passengers and crew aboard the flight numbered 181, including 175 passengers and six crew members. As rescue efforts unfolded, local fire department officials reported that two crew members were successfully rescued, but the grim task of collecting and identifying deceased passengers was ongoing.
Eyewitness accounts and images reveal extensive damage, with the plane reportedly engulfed in flames post-impact. The Korean news agency Yonhap published images showing the plane's tail severed from the fuselage, with substantial smoke and fire evident.
Initial investigations into the crash suggest that a malfunction in the plane’s landing gear, possibly triggered by a bird strike, may have played a crucial role. Reports indicate that the flight had to abort its first landing attempt due to issues with lowering the landing gear. According to MBC-TV footage, the failure to land safely resulted in a crash landing that culminated in a violent explosion.
The event marks a significant tragedy for Jeju Air, a prominent low-cost airline founded in 2005, and this crash is reportedly the first with fatalities for the carrier. The airline previously faced scrutiny in 2021 when an aircraft was investigated for flying despite a defect unnoticed by the crew.
Further complicating the situation, South Korea is currently navigating a national political crisis, with President Yoon Suk Yeol facing impeachment following a controversial attempt to declare martial law earlier in the month. On site and with coordination from the acting president, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, government officials have vowed to leverage all available resources for the rescue and recovery operations.
As investigations continue, the implications of this tragedy will reverberate through aviation and political spheres alike, underscoring the urgent need for reviews and potential policy reforms focused on airline safety and emergency protocols. The full extent of the tragedy, particularly in relation to people’s stories and the impact on the community, will likely unfold in the days ahead.
