A passenger plane carrying 181 individuals skidded off the runway at a high speed, collided with a wall, and subsequently erupted into flames. The aircraft, operated by Jeju Air, resulted in the tragic deaths of 179 people onboard, marking it as the worst aviation disaster involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades and the deadliest on South Korean soil.
The incident occurred on Sunday, with two crew members being rescued from the tail section of the aircraft as flames engulfed the fuselage. By late Sunday, authorities confirmed that all remaining passengers had perished. Reports from the International Civil Aviation Organization indicate this crash is the deadliest worldwide since the Lion Air Flight 610 disaster in 2018.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, focusing on potential landing gear malfunction and possible bird strikes. Eyewitness accounts and airport warnings suggested a bird strike occurred shortly before the mayday alert was issued by the plane.
As families awaited news at Muan International Airport, emotions ran high with many expressing grief and frustration due to the prolonged wait for information. By Sunday evening, officials reported that only 65 victims had been identified through fingerprints and other means, with several bodies too damaged for immediate identification. Among the identified were a 23-year-old flight attendant and a 78-year-old male passenger.
The crash shocked South Korea, which has not experienced a major aviation disaster in years. The last significant incident involving a South Korean airline occurred in 1997. Jeju Air, established in 2005, had not previously experienced a fatal crash.
The Boeing 737-800, flying from Bangkok, was on approach to Muan when it encountered difficulties. Local footage depicted the plane's descent and subsequent crash, which left it fragmented, with the tail being the only recognizable part. Investigation experts noted the possibility of hydraulic failure and improper speed during landing as contributing factors to the accident.
As officials grappling with the aftermath worked to identify the victims, distress among relatives intensified, with calls for clearer communication and quicker updates. Temporary tents were set up at the airport to accommodate the families while many searched for answers about their loved ones.
With uncertainty looming, families remained hopeful, yet anxious about the identification process and the information that could take days or longer to emerge.