Deadliest Air Disaster in South Korea Claims 177 Lives

TDT | South Korea

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At least 177 people were killed in the deadliest air accident in South Korea’s history on Sunday, after a plane flying from Bangkok crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport. The crash occurred shortly after 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT), claiming the lives of 177 of the 181 people on board, including six crew members.

Two crew members were rescued from the wreckage and rushed to the hospital with “mid to severe” injuries. Authorities have indicated that the rest of the passengers are presumed dead. The victims included 84 women, 82 men, and 11 others whose genders were not immediately identifiable. Among the deceased were five children under the age of 10. The youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy, and the oldest was a 78-year-old.

Nine hours after the crash, two people remained missing. The South Korean fire agency confirmed the tragic loss and reported that the crash may have been caused by a bird strike or adverse weather conditions, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800, operated by Korean budget airline Jeju Air. In response to the tragedy, Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae appeared in a televised briefing, bowing deeply and offering his condolences. He assured the public that the aircraft had no prior accident history, and there were no early signs of malfunction.

The South Korean Ministry of Transport confirmed that flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the plane’s black box had been recovered and would undergo examination by government experts. Authorities also stated that the runway at Muan International Airport is expected to remain closed until January 1 for further investigation.

This devastating crash marks a somber chapter in South Korean aviation history, and investigations continue as officials work to determine the cause of the tragedy.