Jeju Air Plane in South Korea Crashes Off Runway and Explodes: 179 Dead, 2 Rescued Out of 181 Onboard | WPN World People News

On December 29, a Jeju Air flight 7C2216, carrying 181 passengers and crew members, crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea after departing from Bangkok, Thailand. The plane veered off the runway, collided with the airport's perimeter wall, and exploded into flames. Emergency crews were deployed in large numbers, but the death toll has risen to 179, with only two survivors. This incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korean history. The South Korean government has declared a national mourning period from now until January 4, 2025.

A total of eight aviation accident investigators and nine aviation safety inspectors are conducting a preliminary investigation at the crash site. Over 1,500 personnel, including 490 firefighters, 455 police officers, and 340 military personnel, have been mobilized for rescue and recovery efforts. Lee Jung-hyun, head of the Muan Fire Department, stated during a briefing that only two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the plane. He added, "Only the tail is somewhat recognizable; the rest of the aircraft is almost unidentifiable."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced at a press conference that the plane's two black boxes have been recovered from the wreckage. While possible causes such as bird strikes and landing gear failure are being considered, the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation. Regarding concerns about the shorter runway at Muan International Airport potentially contributing to the crash, the ministry clarified that the runway, measuring 2,800 meters, has previously accommodated similar aircraft without incident, making it unlikely to be the cause.

The airport’s runway is expected to remain closed until 5 a.m. on January 1, 2025. A temporary morgue has been set up at the airport, and authorities are working with the victims' families to transfer the identified bodies to external facilities. Founded in 2005, Jeju Air is one of South Korea's largest low-cost carriers. This crash is the airline's first fatal accident. The last major aviation disaster in South Korea occurred in 2002 with China Airlines Flight 129, and before that, the Korean Air Flight 801 crash in 1997.