UPD: Rescuers reported 179 dead
The accident occurred at 9 a.m. local time when a Jeju Air plane went off the runway during landing and collided with a fence wall at Muan International Airport, about 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul, according to the South Korean agency Yonhap. The plane attempted to land without deployed landing gear, skidded across the ground, crashed into a concrete wall, and then exploded and caught fire.
Except for the two rescued, all missing people are presumed dead, fire service representatives said, with 120 deaths confirmed at the moment. One passenger and one crew member—both women—were rescued shortly after the accident and taken to the hospital.
“After the plane hit the wall, passengers were thrown from the aircraft. The chances of survival are extremely low,” said a fire agency representative.
In total, there were 181 people on board the plane returning from Bangkok, including six crew members. Two passengers were Thai citizens, the rest were Koreans.
Authorities believe the cause of the accident could have been landing gear failure, possibly due to a bird strike. Jeju Air CEO Kim Ye Bae apologized and expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, promising to provide all necessary support to the victims' families. “Regardless of the cause, I take full responsibility as the CEO,” said Kim.
Photo: Yonhap