A tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning has claimed at least 124 lives as of 3:30 p.m., with authorities warning the death toll could rise to 179 in what is South Korea's worst domestic aviation disaster to date.
The Jeju Air flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers and crew, was attempting to land when it veered off the runway. Two minutes after the pilot called mayday, the plane collided with the perimeter fence and burst into flames, according to the Transport Ministry.
According to the Jeonnam Fire Services Headquarters Wednesday, most of those onboard were likely deceased, leaving two survivors, which are reported to be crew members, one male and one female. The passengers on the crashed plane included 173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals, according to authorities.
No additional survivors had been found among the passengers, and the condition of the wreckage suggested that hopes for more survivors were slim, fire authorities said in a briefing to families of those on board.
The aircraft's fuselage was completely destroyed in the crash, making the identification of victims extremely difficult. Rescue teams were continuing their efforts to locate the remains of missing passengers, while temporary mortuaries had been set up to house the bodies recovered.
Many of the remains were severely damaged, complicating the process of identification, authorities added.
President of Jeju Air Co Ltd. Kim E-bae expressed his sympathy and apologized to the passengers who lost their lives and their bereaved families in the aftermath of the tragic crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport, pledging full cooperation with the government to uncover the cause of the accident.
Taking responsibility as the airline’s top executive, Kim added, “Regardless of the cause, I deeply feel my responsibility as CEO. Jeju Air will do everything in its power to expedite recovery efforts and provide full support to the families of the victims.”
Kim stated that the cause of the crash remains unclear and emphasized that the airline is awaiting official investigation results from government authorities. “At this point, it is difficult to determine the cause of the accident, and we must wait for the official findings from the relevant government agencies,” he said.
A Jeju Air representative also noted that the crashed aircraft, a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, had no prior history of accidents. The airline was working to identify the precise cause of the crash and clarify the circumstances surrounding it, the representative said.
Meanwhile, Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance designated Muan as a special disaster zone.
Choi emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting the extensive loss of life and the urgent need for a coordinated response. “The government has activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and will deploy all necessary resources. We will officially declare Muan as a special disaster zone to ensure effective relief and recovery efforts,” he stated.
The designation of a special disaster zone, as outlined under the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management, allows for enhanced administrative, financial and medical support in affected regions. This includes emergency relief, disaster recovery plans, and financial aid for victims and their families.
Under this designation, joint investigation teams comprising disaster management agencies will conduct assessments and draft a recovery plan tailored to the severity of the disaster. These measures aim to expedite both immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation for affected individuals and communities.
Authorities remained focused on recovery operations and the identification of victims as investigations into the cause of the tragedy continue. Some 720 officials, including personnel from the airport, fire fighters, police, military and coast guards were deployed to the scene.
The aircraft departed from Bangkok at 1:30 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Muan at 8:30 a.m. During its first landing attempt on runway No. 1, the plane failed to land and performed a go-around, a flight maneuver where a pilot chooses to abort a landing and return to the air to fly round and try again.
On its second attempt, the landing gear malfunctioned, leading to an emergency belly landing near the runway's end, according to authorities. A belly landing, also known as a gear-up landing, is an emergency landing where an aircraft lands on its underside, or belly, without its landing gear fully extended.
Unable to decelerate fully, the plane struck airport perimeter fences at speed, resulting in its destruction and instant fire, according to the authorities.
Emergency personnel, including 80 firefighters, were immediately deployed to the site. The fire was first controlled within 43 minutes, and rescue efforts began from the rear of the aircraft. Two survivors were rescued, but authorities feared that more dead would be discovered as they continued to search the wreckage.
Initial investigations pointed to a "bird strike" as the likely cause of the landing gear malfunction. This occurs when an aircraft collides with a flock of birds or when birds enter the engine.
Source: The Korea Herald
