A tragic plane crash in South Korea has claimed the lives of 179 people after Jeju Air flight 7C2216 crashed during landing at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning. Only two of the 181 people on board survived.
The flight, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land shortly after 9 a.m. As the aircraft approached the runway, the pilots reported a bird strike to air traffic control and issued a Mayday warning, indicating their intention to abort the landing and attempt a go-around.
Despite the intended maneuver, the aircraft made a belly landing approximately 1,200 meters along the 2,800-meter runway. It then skidded off the runway and collided with an embankment at the end of the landing strip, erupting into flames upon impact.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew members perished in the crash. Two crew members were rescued from the wreckage and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Aviation analysts are investigating several potential factors that may have contributed to the disaster, including the reported bird strike, a possible landing gear malfunction, the presence of a concrete structure near the runway, and potential pilot error.
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. “We are working closely with aviation experts to analyze all possible scenarios,” said a spokesperson for South Korea’s aviation authority.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the global aviation community and raised concerns about flight safety protocols. Families of the victims are being notified, and support services have been made available to all those affected.
