All but two of the 181 people aboard a Jeju Air Flight 2216 were killed when the passenger plane crash-landed at Muan International Airport Sunday morning in the nation’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades.
The Jeju Air plane aircraft — a Boeing 737-800 — skidded on the runway at high speed and slammed into a wall before exploding into flames in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. The plane was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet that had arrived from Bangkok and that the crash happened at 9:03 a.m.
Officials are investigating the cause of the plane crash, including the reported malfunctioning of the landing gear and whether the plane had been struck by birds.
Jeju Air Flight 221 passengers
A total of 179 people — 85 women, 84 men and 10 others — died in the fire, the South Korean fire agency said. Only to crew members were safely pulled our by emergency workers members. Ju Woong, director of the Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, where one of the survivors was hospitalized, said the man was being treated in an intensive care unit for fractures to his ribs, shoulder blade and upper spine.
The passengers were predominantly South Korean, as well as two Thai nationals.
Final message from Jeju Air passenger: A man waiting at the airport for a family member aboard the doomed flight shared the last message he received. Just before the crash, at 9 a.m., his relative wrote via KakaoTalk: “A bird struck the wing and we can’t land.” When the man asked how long the issue had been occurring, his family member replied a minute later, “Just now, should I say my last words?” Soon after, the passenger was unreachable.
Key Points
- 179 killed in plane crash in South Korea
- Two crew members rescued alive of 181 on board
- Jeju Air flight was heading from Bangkok to Muan
- The plane skidded along the runway before hitting a concrete barrier and bursting into flames
Airline offers “deep apology” as South Korean leaders vow thorough investigation
Jeju Air in a statement expressed its “deep apology” over the crash and said it will do its “utmost to manage the aftermath of the accident.”
Kim E-bae, Jeju Air’s president, bowed deeply with other senior company officials in a televised news conference as he apologized to bereaved families and said he feels “full responsibility” for the incident.
Boeing said it was in contact with Jeju Air and is ready to support the company in dealing with the crash. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew,” Boeing said.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, announced that the site of the plane crash has been designated a special disaster zone as he vowed a thorough investigation into the cause of the deadly incident. “We will focus all resources on recovery and supporting the victims. All necessary resources are being mobilized, and a special disaster zone has been declared,” said Choi, who stepped in after the impeachment of Han Duck-soo, the previous acting president, by parliament on Friday.
Choi, who visited the crash site on Sunday, expressed his “heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families” and committed to doing everything possible to manage the aftermath and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The disaster occurred just two days into Choi’s acting presidency, amid ongoing political turmoil in South Korea.
Thailand’s prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also expressed deep condolences to the families of those affected by the accident and ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide assistance immediately.
Investigators recover both black boxes
The black box, containing flight data and cockpit voice recordings, has been recovered from the crash site and will undergo analysis by government experts, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Senior official Joo Jong-wan confirmed that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been retrieved and will be examined as part of the ongoing investigation into the crash and subsequent fire. He noted that the investigation could take several months to complete. Additionally, the runway at Muan Airport will remain closed until January 1, 2025, the ministry announced.
What caused the accident?
Videos shared on social media showed the aircraft veering down the runway without its landing gear deployed, hitting a wall and bursting into flames.
The airport’s control tower warned the plane of a potential bird strike before the crash. The pilot issued a mayday alert about two minutes before the crash, officials said.
South Korean authorities have not given a cause for the crash and are still examining communications from the aircraft.
Experts said that the plane’s undercarriage, specifically the landing gear, appeared not to have fully deployed before landing, but the cause of this failure remains unclear. Aviation analysts stress that more evidence is needed to determine the cause of Sunday’s crash, with local officials speculating a possible bird strike or bad weather. However, footage of the crash showed clear skies.
Aviation journalist Geoffrey Thomas told CNN that the Boeing 737-800, known for its strong safety record and reliability, makes the crash especially perplexing, especially given the excellent flying conditions and the aircraft’s proven history.
Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim Yi-bae, confirmed that the plane showed no signs of issues prior to the accident, adding that the cause remains unclear and will be determined after the official investigation.
Recent aviation incidents
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a PAL Airlines de Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprop, operating under Air Canada, skidded off the runway and caught fire upon landing at Halifax International Airport, narrowly avoiding disaster.
This event follows a series of serious aviation accidents, including the fatal crashes of a Jeju Air Boeing 737 and an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer E190, as well as a runway excursion of a KLM Boeing 737 due to hydraulic failure.