Update: Jeju Air Plane Crash in Muan Claims at Least 122 Lives, 2 Survivors Rescued

Author: Dian Kencana
December 30, 2024

Jeju Air plane caught fire at Muan International Airport, South Korea, Sunday (12/29). (AP Photo)

SEAToday.com, Seoul – A Jeju Air passenger jet carrying 181 people crashed in flames after veering off the runway and hitting a wall at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on Sunday (12/29) morning, local time. The accident has left at least 122 people dead, while two survivors—a passenger and a crew member—were rescued with non-life-threatening injuries.

The tragedy occurred at 9:07 a.m. as the Boeing 737-800, en route from Bangkok, failed to land properly in Muan, South Jeolla Province, approximately 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul. The plane reportedly attempted to land without its landing gear deployed, skidded across the ground, and collided with a concrete wall before exploding into flames.

The authorities had confirmed 122 deaths from the accident as of 2:47 p.m. local time.

"After the plane collided with the wall, passengers were thrown out of the aircraft. The chances of survival are extremely low," a firefighting agency official said.

"The aircraft has almost completely been destroyed, and it is difficult to identify the deceased," the official said. "We are in the process of recovering the remains, which will take time."

The two survivors, both women, are receiving treatment at a Mokpo hospital. Meanwhile, a temporary morgue has been set up at the airport to accommodate the victims' remains.

Most of the passengers were South Korean nationals, with only two Thai citizens aboard. Officials suspect the crash may have been caused by a landing gear failure, possibly due to a bird strike, and are conducting an investigation to confirm the cause.

The South Jeolla government has raised emergency alerts to the highest level, deploying all available rescue and police personnel to the site. Videos of the crash aired by local broadcasters show the plane engulfed in flames moments after the collision, highlighting the catastrophic nature of the incident.