A devastating plane crash on Sunday morning at Muan International Airport in South Korea has resulted in one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country's history, claiming the lives of 179 people and leaving only two survivors. The incident occurred as Jeju Air flight 7C2216, en route from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land at the airport.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, belly-landed at approximately 9:00 a.m. local time, skidded off the runway, collided with navigation equipment, and burst into flames upon striking a wall. The South Korean Ministry of Transport confirmed the fatalities and reported that two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the burning aircraft. Both survivors sustained medium to severe injuries and are receiving treatment.
The catastrophic scene was described by Fire Chief Lee Jung-hyun as "unrecognizable," with only the tail part of the plane retaining some semblance of shape. Preliminary reports suggest that a possible bird strike might have caused the landing gear to malfunction. A passenger had reportedly texted a relative, stating, "A bird is stuck in the wing," before sending a final message, "Should I say my last words?"
The control tower had issued a bird strike warning prior to the crash, and the pilots declared a mayday shortly before attempting a landing from the opposite direction. Authorities are working closely with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing, as the aircraft was manufactured in 2009 by the American company.
The plane's twin CFM56-7B26 engines were produced by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France's Safran. CFM released a statement expressing deep sadness over the loss of Jeju Air flight 2216 and offering heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those on board.
Video footage from local media showed the plane skidding without visible landing gear before the fiery crash. Emergency personnel combed the wreckage and nearby areas for victims who may have been ejected from the aircraft. Mortuary vehicles lined up to transport remains, and a temporary morgue was established to accommodate the high number of fatalities.
Witnesses at the airport's arrival area expressed grief and frustration, with one bereaved family member pleading for clarity and another asking for privacy. This disaster marks the worst crash involving a South Korean airline since a Korean Air crash in Guam in 1997, which killed over 200 people. It also surpasses the 2002 Air China crash in South Korea that claimed 129 lives.
Jeju Air, founded in 2005, is South Korea's third-largest airline by passenger volume. This was its first fatal flight. The crash occurred just three weeks after Jeju Air launched regular routes between Muan and Bangkok. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae offered a public apology, bowing deeply during a press conference and pledging full cooperation with investigators.
South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok visited the crash site and pledged full government resources to the investigation and relief efforts. Thai officials confirmed that two Thai nationals were among the deceased, and Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences and instructed the foreign ministry to assist the victims' families.
All flights at Muan International Airport were canceled following the accident. The airport, one of South Korea's smallest, had seen a surge in international passenger traffic, with numbers increasing nearly twentyfold in 2023. Global aviation standards mandate that South Korea lead the investigation, with collaboration from the United States.
Experts noted that bird strikes are common but rarely result in such catastrophic outcomes. "A bird strike alone doesn't typically bring down an aircraft. This incident raises significant questions that need answers," said Geoffrey Thomas, editor of Airline News.
As investigators continue their work, families mourn the devastating loss of loved ones in what is now a somber chapter in South Korea's aviation history. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many calling for increased safety measures and accountability in the aviation industry.
