Deadly Plane Crash in South Korea: 167 Killed in Jeju Air Accident
Accident Details
At least 167 people were killed when a Jeju Air plane belly-landed and veered off the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on Sunday, the national fire agency said. The plane, a twin-engine Boeing 737-800, was attempting to land shortly after 9 a.m. (0000 GMT) at the airport in the south of the country, South Korea’s transport ministry said.
Rescue Efforts
Two people, both crew members, were rescued, and officials have suggested the rest are presumed dead. The two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the burning plane, Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun told a briefing. The fire was extinguished as of 1 p.m., Lee said.
Investigation
Investigators are looking into bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors, Lee said. Yonhap cited airport authorities as saying a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction. The control tower issued a bird strike warning and shortly afterward the pilots declared mayday, a transport ministry official said, without specifying whether the flight said it struck any birds.
Passengers and Crew
The passengers included two Thai nationals and the rest are believed to be South Koreans, according to the transportation ministry. The Boeing 737-800 jet, operated by Jeju Air, was manufactured in 2009, the transport ministry said.
Jeju Air’s Response
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident, bowing deeply during a televised briefing. He said the cause of the crash was still unknown, that the aircraft had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction. The airline will cooperate with investigators and make supporting the bereaved its top priority, Kim said.
International Response
Boeing said in a emailed statement, "We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew." The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Conclusion
The crash is the deadliest air accident ever on South Korean soil, and the worst involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades, according to ministry data. The accident has sent shockwaves throughout the country, with many expressing their condolences to the families of the victims.
FAQs
Q: How many people were killed in the crash?
A: At least 167 people were killed in the crash.
Q: What was the cause of the crash?
A: The cause of the crash is still unknown, but investigators are looking into bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors.
Q: Who was on the plane?
A: The passengers included two Thai nationals and the rest are believed to be South Koreans.
Q: What is Jeju Air’s response to the crash?
A: Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident and said the airline will cooperate with investigators and make supporting the bereaved its top priority.