A Jeju Air Plane has crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Korea, killing 179 people and injuring two crew members.
The passenger plane, carrying 175 passengers and six crew from Bangkok, skidded and crashed on the runway at 9:03am local time (00:03 GMT) on Sunday.
The National Fire Agency confirmed that 179 people were killed in the disaster, with 85 women, 84 men, and 10 others whose genders were not immediately identifiable.
The two surviving crew members were rescued from the wreckage, which was engulfed in a massive fire.
According to the National Fire Agency, the crash is believed to have been caused by a bird strike, which resulted in malfunctioning landing gear.
The South Korean government has declared seven days of national mourning following the disaster, which is one of the country’s worst aviation accidents.
The 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet was operated by Jeju Air, one of South Korea’s largest low-cost carriers.
The airline issued an apology for the crash, saying it would “do everything in our power in response to this accident”.
The incident has sent shockwaves through South Korea, which is currently embroiled in a major political crisis.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has expressed deep condolences to the families of the crash victims, and ordered an investigation into the incident.
INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY AS RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE
Rescue teams are working to recover the remains of the victims, with only 65 out of 179 identified so far due to the severity of the fire.
The South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, with a team of experts from the Korea Aviation Authority and the National Transportation Safety Board on site.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also announced that it will be sending a team to assist with the investigation.
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS DESCRIBE CHAOTIC SCENE
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene at the airport, with flames and smoke billowing from the wreckage.
“I was in the terminal building when I heard a loud explosion,” said one eyewitness. “I ran to the window and saw the plane on fire. It was terrible.”
Another eyewitness described seeing the plane skid along the runway before bursting into flames.
JEJU AIR APOLOGIZES FOR CRASH
Jeju Air has issued a statement apologizing for the crash and promising to cooperate fully with the investigation.
“We are deeply sorry for the loss of life and injury caused by this tragic accident,” said the airline. “We will do everything in our power to support the families of the victims and to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”
THAILAND OFFERS CONDOLENCES
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has offered condolences to the families of the victims and promised to provide assistance to those affected.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and the people of South Korea,” said the Prime Minister. “We will do everything we can to support those affected by this tragedy.”
Plane crashes that claimed the lives of over 100 passengers:
1. Tenerife Airport Disaster (1977) – 583 fatalities
Two Boeing 747s collided on a runway in the Canary Islands, resulting in the deadliest accident in aviation history.
2. Japan Airlines Flight 123 (1985) – 520 fatalities
A Boeing 747 suffered a catastrophic failure of its rear pressure bulkhead, leading to a loss of control and subsequent crash into a mountain.
3. Air India Flight 182 (1985) – 329 fatalities
A Boeing 747 was blown up by a bomb over the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.
4. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (2014) – 298 fatalities
A Boeing 777 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile while flying over Ukraine, resulting in the loss of all on board.
5. Air France Flight 447 (2009) – 228 fatalities
An Airbus A330 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean while flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, resulting in the loss of all on board.
6. American Airlines Flight 191 (1979) – 273 fatalities
A McDonnell Douglas DC-10 crashed during takeoff from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, resulting in the deadliest aviation accident in US history.
7. Turkish Airlines Flight 981 (1974) – 346 fatalities
A McDonnell Douglas DC-10 crashed into a forest in France, resulting in the loss of all on board.
8. China Airlines Flight 611 (2002) – 225 fatalities
A Boeing 747 broke apart in mid-air and crashed into the Taiwan Strait, resulting in the loss of all on board.
9. Swissair Flight 111 (1998) – 229 fatalities
A McDonnell Douglas MD-11 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia, resulting in the loss of all on board.
10. Korean Air Lines Flight 007 (1983) – 269 fatalities
A Boeing 747 was shot down by a Soviet Su-15 interceptors after straying into restricted airspace, resulting in the loss of all on board.
