Plane Crash in South Korea Leaves 179 Dead, in One of Country’s Deadliest Aviation Disasters

Seoul, Capital of South Korea

A Plane Crash in Muan, South Korea

A passenger plane in South Korea caught fire after skidding off the runway and hitting a concrete fence on Sunday. At least 179 people died in the crash, making it one of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disasters.

The Jeju Air flight, returning from Bangkok, had 181 people on board when its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy during landing in Muan, 290 kilometers south of Seoul.

Causes of the Crash

Investigators are considering bird strikes and weather conditions as possible causes of the crash. Both flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been recovered.

Aftermath

Firefighters rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze, but the plane was almost entirely destroyed except for part of the tail. Two crew members survived and were rescued from the wreckage.

South Korea’s fire agency confirmed 65 of the victims have been identified. Acting President Choi Sang-mo has declared a seven-day national mourning period and assured full government support for the victims’ families.

Reactions and Tributes

Jeju Air apologized and pledged to manage the aftermath, while Boeing offered condolences and support. Officials confirmed two Thai nationals were on board, with the rest believed to be South Korean.

Thai authorities reported no issues with the plane when it left Bangkok.