Tragic Plane Crash at Muan International Airport Claims 179 Lives
In what is being called the deadliest air disaster in South Korea since 1993, a Jeju Air flight crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 179 people. Only two crew members survived the tragic accident.
The ill-fated flight 7C2216 was en route from Bangkok, Thailand, carrying 175 passengers—including 173 South Koreans and two Thais—and six crew members. The aircraft attempted to land at Muan International Airport, located approximately 290 kilometers southwest of Seoul, at around 9:03 a.m. local time.
According to fire authorities, the plane landed without its landing gear deployed, skidded off the runway, and collided with the outer wall of the runway. The impact caused the fuselage to break in half and erupt into flames.
Emergency responders retrieved the bodies of 179 victims by 8:38 p.m. local time. The two surviving crew members were rescued from the rear section of the aircraft, which had sustained severe damage.
Officials believe that a bird strike leading to landing gear failure may have caused the accident. After an initial landing attempt, the aircraft circled back for a second approach, resulting in a belly landing that ended in disaster.
This tragedy marks the worst air disaster in South Korea’s modern history since 66 people were killed in a plane crash in 1993. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
