A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed during landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea today, resulting in a devastating fire and the tragic loss of nearly all 181 people onboard. The flight, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members.
Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft suffered a landing gear failure, possibly caused by a bird strike, which caused it to skid off the runway and collide with a barrier before erupting into flames. Emergency responders, including over 1,500 personnel, were able to extinguish the fire within 43 minutes, but the blaze left the aircraft almost completely destroyed.
Tragically, 179 people are feared dead, with only two survivors reported so far. The accident marks the first fatal incident in Jeju Air’s 19-year history and is the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea since the Korean Air Flight 801 crash.
The airline has issued an apology and is cooperating fully with investigators to determine the cause of the crash. South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered comprehensive rescue operations and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
Investigations are ongoing, with authorities focusing on the bird strike and adverse weather conditions as possible contributors to the landing gear malfunction. This tragedy has sent shockwaves through the aviation community and the nation as families and officials await further details on the cause of the disaster.
