The Crossbill News Desk
A Jeju Air flight carrying 175 passengers and six crew members from Bangkok to South Korea’s Muan International Airport crashed early Sunday (December 29), bursting into flames and leaving nearly all on board feared dead.
Only three passengers and two crew members have been rescued so far, with ongoing efforts to save others trapped in the tail section of the aircraft, according to airport officials.
The Boeing 737-800 jet, operated by Jeju Air, crashed shortly after 9 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) while attempting to land. The plane reportedly veered off the runway and slammed into a wall, erupting into a fireball.
Videos from local news outlets show the twin-engine aircraft skidding on the runway without visible landing gear before the explosion.
South Korean fire authorities reported that 33 bodies have been recovered, though the final toll remains uncertain.
Among the passengers, two were Thai nationals, while the rest were believed to be South Koreans, according to the Ministry of Transportation.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has called for exhaustive rescue operations, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The Ministry of Transport revealed that the control tower had issued a warning to Jeju Air Flight 7C 2216 moments before it skidded off the runway.
Jeju Air is working to determine the cause of the crash and confirm details about casualties, according to a company spokesperson.
The tragedy has drawn international condolences. US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg expressed his heartbreak over the incident in a post on X.
“I was heartbroken to hear about the tragedy at Muan Airport this morning. My sincerest condolences go out to the victims and their loved ones, and my thoughts are with the people of Korea during this difficult time,” he wrote.
Germany’s Ambassador to South Korea, Georg Schmidt, also conveyed his sympathies, stating, “Very best wishes for the injured and all involved in the rescue efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with South Korea.”
Rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities deploying all available resources to save as many lives as possible.
Only three passengers and two crew members have been rescued so far, with ongoing efforts to save others trapped in the tail section of the aircraft, according to airport officials.
The Boeing 737-800 jet, operated by Jeju Air, crashed shortly after 9 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) while attempting to land. The plane reportedly veered off the runway and slammed into a wall, erupting into a fireball.
Videos from local news outlets show the twin-engine aircraft skidding on the runway without visible landing gear before the explosion.
A Jeju Airlines plane carrying 175 passengers and 6 crew crashed in South Korea killing at least 23.
— Hedgie (@VictoryDaily1) December 29, 2024
Local fire departments suspect the crash was caused by a landing gear malfunction following a bird strike.
Prayers to those affected. ????@zerohedge
pic.twitter.com/nGgqrhzjFW
South Korean fire authorities reported that 33 bodies have been recovered, though the final toll remains uncertain.
Among the passengers, two were Thai nationals, while the rest were believed to be South Koreans, according to the Ministry of Transportation.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has called for exhaustive rescue operations, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The Ministry of Transport revealed that the control tower had issued a warning to Jeju Air Flight 7C 2216 moments before it skidded off the runway.
Jeju Air is working to determine the cause of the crash and confirm details about casualties, according to a company spokesperson.
The tragedy has drawn international condolences. US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg expressed his heartbreak over the incident in a post on X.
“I was heartbroken to hear about the tragedy at Muan Airport this morning. My sincerest condolences go out to the victims and their loved ones, and my thoughts are with the people of Korea during this difficult time,” he wrote.
Germany’s Ambassador to South Korea, Georg Schmidt, also conveyed his sympathies, stating, “Very best wishes for the injured and all involved in the rescue efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with South Korea.”
Rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities deploying all available resources to save as many lives as possible.
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