A deadly crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew members aboard a Jeju Air flight.
The Boeing 737-800, which was en route from Bangkok, Thailand, crash-landed after skidding off the runway and slamming into a wall, resulting in a fiery explosion.
Only two survivors, both cabin crew members, were rescued from the burning wreckage.
The flight had 181 people on board, including six crew members and 175 passengers, many of whom were holidaymakers.
An investigation is ongoing, with authorities considering various factors, including bird strikes and bad weather.
Experts, however, have raised doubts about whether these elements alone could explain the devastating crash.
One passenger reportedly sent a message to a relative about a bird stuck in the wing, though officials have yet to confirm this detail.
The tragedy has left families in mourning, with distraught relatives waiting at the airport to identify the bodies.
Among the victims were 173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals, ranging in age from three to 78, with most in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.
One of the victims, 49-year-old Jongluk Doungmanee, had been returning to South Korea from visiting family in Thailand.
Footage from the crash showed the aircraft landing without wheels and overshooting the runway before colliding with the airport’s perimeter wall.
South Korean transport officials stated that the plane encountered difficulties while approaching the airport.
The experienced pilot, with over 6,800 flight hours, had to abort the first landing attempt due to bird interference.
Shortly after, the pilot issued a mayday call and was given clearance to land in the opposite direction.
Aviation experts have raised questions about the crash, including why the plane was speeding, why the landing gear wasn’t deployed, and why the flaps were not in position.
Geoffrey Thomas, editor of Airline News, noted that many aspects of the tragedy were puzzling, especially given South Korea’s high aviation standards and Jeju Air’s strong safety record.
The crash has been described as a national tragedy for South Korea, which is currently in the midst of a political crisis after the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol and his temporary successor.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who was recently appointed, expressed his condolences and vowed to support the injured.
This marks the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea since the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam. It is also the first fatal crash for Jeju Air, which was founded in 2005.
The airline’s officials publicly apologized at a press conference, stating, “We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident. We will make every effort to resolve the situation.”
Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, has confirmed that it is in communication with the airline regarding the incident.
Source-BBC
