A Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people from Bangkok, Thailand, to South Korea tragically crashed on arrival at Muan International Airport on Sunday, leaving 120 confirmed dead and only two survivors. The plane, a Boeing 737-800, collided with a barrier and burst into flames, devastating passengers and crew onboard.
The crash occurred at 9:03 am local time, shortly after the aircraft attempted a landing. Authorities cited a bird strike and adverse weather conditions as probable causes. According to the Ministry of Land, a warning about bird activity was issued three minutes before the plane attempted its landing.
Two minutes prior to the crash, the pilot issued a Mayday call. Video footage showed the plane skidding off the runway and slamming into a wall, where it erupted into flames.
“Passengers were ejected from the aircraft after it collided with the wall, leaving little chance of survival,” a local fire official reported.
Of the 181 onboard, only two flight attendants survived the crash, both in critical condition. Emergency responders confirmed 120 deaths by mid-afternoon, with many others feared missing.
Efforts to recover remains were hampered by the extensive fire damage to the aircraft. The fire department chief, Lee Jeong-hyun, noted that identification of victims was proving challenging due to the extent of destruction.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok convened an emergency meeting and later visited Muan to oversee rescue operations and console bereaved families. He pledged comprehensive support for victims’ families and a thorough investigation.
Jeju Air, one of South Korea’s leading low-cost carriers, apologized for the tragedy and vowed to cooperate fully with investigations. Boeing has also offered its assistance to the airline.
Authorities have ruled out the possibility of the runway length contributing to the crash, stating that the 2,800-meter tarmac is sufficient for similar-sized aircraft. Investigators believe the bird strike and adverse weather combined to cause the fatal crash.
This marks the first fatal accident in Jeju Air’s history, which began operations in 2005. South Korea’s aviation sector has generally been lauded for its safety record. The incident has reignited global concerns about bird strikes, which have historically caused catastrophic aviation accidents.
Further investigations are ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events that led to this devastating accident.
