A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people crashed while landing at South Korea’s Muan Airport in the southwest of the country.
This is stated in the latest statement by the National Fire Agency of South Korea.
The rescue operation continues.
According to emergency services, the likely causes of the crash were a bird strike and adverse weather conditions.
“It is believed that the cause of the disaster was a bird strike combined with unfavorable weather conditions. However, the exact cause will be announced after a joint investigation,” Lee Jong-hyun, chief of the Muan Fire Station, said at a briefing.
Lee Hyun-ji, a member of the local fire department’s response team, previously warned that “the number of casualties may increase due to seriously injured people.”
The video shows the Boeing 737-8AS, flying from Bangkok to Muan Airport, attempting to land but crashing and engulfed in flames.
BREAKING: New video shows moment Boeing 737-800 plane carrying 181 people onboard crashes at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
pic.twitter.com/konxWBpnWy— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) December 29, 2024
BREAKING: 179 people presumed dead in South Korea plane crash, fire department says. Only 2 survivors pic.twitter.com/8gvHWWK9Pf
— BNO News (@BNONews) December 29, 2024
Two Passengers have been rescued from the burning wreckage of the aircraft (HL8088) after Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 plane carrying 181 people crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
The accident occurred today at 9.03am local time as the Jeju Air flight 7C2216, was… pic.twitter.com/a6pN6RLEly
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) December 29, 2024
Video | Moment when #plane veers off #SouthKorean #runwayerupts into #fireball, #casualties mount | pic.twitter.com/ZOKG3iD0uc
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) December 29, 2024
Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok arrived at Muan International Airport at 12:55 local time to oversee the response to the disaster.
Choi said at the crash site: “No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy.”
He promised that the government would provide full support to the families of the victims.
Choi, who just days ago became acting president amid South Korea’s ongoing political crisis, activated the Central Disaster Management and Security Headquarters earlier in the day.
Earlier, Kursor wrote that details of the investigation into the plane crash in Kazakhstan had become known.