- Plane catches fire after landing at Muan Airport
- 2 persons on board rescued
- Condolences from the Thai Prime Minister and Boeing Aircraft Company
Plane catches fire after landing at Muan Airport
On Sunday, 29 December, a Jeju Air plane flying from Bangkok caught fire after an unsuccessful landing at Muan International Airport, South Korea. At least 167 people were killed and the fate of many more passengers remains unknown.
The incident occurred at 9:03 a.m. local time when the Boeing 737-800 aircraft failed to land on its belly and skidded off the runway for unknown reasons. The aircraft struck a concrete fence and immediately burst into flames.
Initial reports indicate that the plane's landing gear malfunctioned, causing in-flight problems. The National Firefighting Agency confirmed that 181 people were on board the plane, of whom 167 died, including 79 women, 77 men, and 11 persons whose sex has not yet been established.
2 persons on board rescued
Only two crew members were rescued and are currently conscious and receiving treatment at a local hospital in Mokpo. The fire brigades used 32 fire engines and several helicopters to extinguish the flames.
Lee Jeong-hyeon, Commander of Muan Fire Station, reported that rescuers continue searching for victims. The plane's wreckage was destroyed, and only the tail assembly remained familiar among the debris.
Ministry of Transport spokesman Joo Jong-wan informed the media that government investigation teams are working at the scene to investigate the cause of the accident. They are also investigating the possibility of the plane colliding with birds.
Condolences from the Thai Prime Minister and Boeing Aircraft Company
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the victims' families and instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide immediate assistance. Kim E-bae, CEO of Jeju Air, apologized to the victims' families at a press conference and stated that the company would do everything possible to help deal with the aftermath of the disaster.
"Boeing, the plane's manufacturer, expressed its deepest condolences to the victims' families and pledged its full support to Jeju Air.
This tragedy is one of the worst aviation disasters in South Korea in the last decade.
