An aircraft with 181 on board crashed at South Korea’s Muan airport on Sunday. All passengers are feared dead except two after it suffered a bird strike during landing, reported the national fire agency. One flight attendant and one passenger have been rescued so far.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the incident occurred at 9.03 am (1203 GMT) as Jeju Air Flight 2216, travelling from Bangkok to Muan, was attempting to land. The aircraft landing gear reportedly malfunctioned after the bird strike.
The fire department informed Yonhap that emergency teams were conducting rescue operations from the aircraft’s rear section and that the 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet was ‘almost completely destroyed.’
“The plane is almost completely destroyed, and identifying the deceased is proving difficult. The process is taking time as we locate and recover the remains,” the fire department said in a statement.
An image captured at the scene displayed the aircraft’s tail section ablaze near the runway’s edge, with emergency response vehicles and firefighting units positioned nearby.
Also read: Moment when plane skidded off runway, burst into flames at South Korea airport
Meanwhile, Jeju Air CEO executive Kim E-bae, issued an apology and said they are determining the cause of the accident.
“We express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident. At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies,” said E-bae.
“Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident. Jeju Air will do everything possible to promtly manage this accident and support the families of those aboard. We will also do our utmost to determine the cause of the accident in cooperation with the government. Once again, we pray for those who lost their lives in this accident and offer our deepest apologies to their bereaved families,” he added.
The Muan International Airport is approximately 288 kilometres (179 miles) southwest of Seoul. The emergency services deployed 32 fire engines to response to the incident and an on-site investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok directed officials to utilise all available resources for passenger rescue operations. “All related agencies must mobilise all available resources to save the personnel,” he instructed officials in a statement.
Choi would chair an emergency cabinet meeting to coordinate rescue efforts and response measures.
This marks the first fatal incident for Jeju Air, a prominent South Korean budget airline established in 2005.
Earlier in 2007, a Jeju Air Bombardier Q400 carrying 74 passengers skidded off the runway at Busan-Gimhae airport due to strong winds, resulting in twelve injuries.
