A passenger plane burst into flames after skidding off a runway at a South Korean airport and slamming into a concrete fence, killing at least 167 people in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters
Officials said the Jeju Air passenger plane’s front landing gear appeared to fail during landing at Muan airport, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul.
The National Fire Agency reported that the fire was nearly extinguished, but rescuers were still working to pull passengers from the wreckage. The plane was carrying 181 people, and 167 fatalities have been confirmed, including 79 men, 77 women, and 11 others whose genders were not immediately identifiable. The death toll is expected to rise as dozens remain missing six hours after the incident.
Two crew members were pulled alive from the crash site, but rescue workers warned there is little hope of finding more survivors. Authorities deployed 32 fire trucks and several helicopters to contain the blaze.
Footage aired by YTN television showed the Boeing 737-800 jet skidding across the runway with its landing gear apparently still retracted before colliding head-on with a concrete wall. The crash occurred at 9:03 a.m. local time, according to the Transport Ministry.
Muan Fire Station Chief Lee Jeong-hyeon stated that the plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail section recognizable among the wreckage. He added that investigators were exploring various causes, including possible bird strikes that may have led to mechanical failure.
Transport Ministry official Joo Jong-wan confirmed that a team of government investigators is examining the site to determine the cause of the crash and subsequent fire.
Jeju Air President Kim E-bae apologized to the victims’ families during a televised news conference, expressing “full responsibility” for the tragedy. He noted that the aircraft had undergone regular maintenance and showed no prior signs of mechanical issues.
Emergency officials continue to investigate the fire’s cause, while local broadcasters aired dramatic footage of thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage.
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