Update:
179 people were killed and two people were rescued in the deadliest air accident ever in South Korea on Sunday.
Two crew members survived and were being treated for injuries.
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In a tragic aviation disaster, a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people from Bangkok, Thailand, to South Korea ended in catastrophe at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, unable to deploy its landing gear, skidded off the runway and exploded into a fiery blaze, killing at least 62 people and leaving others unaccounted for, according to South Korea's National Fire Agency.
The flight, which carried 175 passengers and six crew members, attempted a landing at approximately 9:03 a.m. local time. The landing gear failed to extend, forcing the pilot to attempt a standard "go-around" maneuver.
Tragically, during the second attempt, the plane crash-landed on its belly and slid uncontrollably past the runway, erupting into flames. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the devastating fire and wreckage made the rescue effort arduous.
Horrible plane crash in South Korea. pic.twitter.com/LJogLyJ3ZD — Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) December 29, 2024
Among the casualties, 37 were women and 25 were men, though details on their identities remain unavailable. The crash's survivors-two individuals, including one passenger and one crew member-were found alive but remain in critical condition. Initial reports also noted that most casualties were concentrated in the aircraft's tail section.
Disturbing video footage shared on social media showed the plane landing without its landing gear, with sparks and smoke trailing from the fuselage before it burst into flames. The intense friction caused the engines to glow a fiery red, nearly white-hot, as the aircraft skidded across the tarmac.
Firefighters, numbering over 80, managed to extinguish the flames by 9:46 a.m. local time, but the death toll continued to rise as recovery efforts progressed.
South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has called for a full-scale emergency response and an immediate investigation into the tragedy. According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi has ordered the mobilization of all available resources to aid in the rescue efforts and to manage the unfolding crisis. An emergency meeting was convened on Sunday morning to coordinate the response.
The cause of the landing gear failure is currently under investigation. Authorities have not ruled out potential mechanical issues or external factors, such as a bird strike, that could have disrupted the system. A detailed forensic examination of the wreckage and black box recordings is underway to uncover the precise cause of the malfunction.
Muan International Airport, located approximately 180 miles southwest of Seoul, became the epicenter of grief and emergency operations on Sunday. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as first responders worked tirelessly to save lives and recover remains.
The crash is one of South Korea's deadliest aviation incidents in recent history. Jeju Air, the airline involved, is one of South Korea's largest low-cost carriers, and its safety protocols are under intense scrutiny following this disaster.
