According to Yonhap News Agency, at around 9:07 a.m. local time, Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport encountered an accident. The plane, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, veered off the runway and burst into flames at Muan Airport.
Emergency Response
Rescue teams immediately arrived at the scene to conduct search and rescue operations.
The flight, operated by Jeju Air, departed from Bangkok, Thailand, at 1:30 a.m. on December 29 and was scheduled to land at Muan Airport at 8:30 a.m. the same day.
However, the accident occurred near runway 1 at Muan Airport. A field official reported that the plane attempted to land but failed to reduce speed. During the first landing attempt, the plane could not land normally and circled back for a second attempt, during which the crash occurred.
It was confirmed that only two out of 181 people survived the crash.
The 2 people who were rescued are a male crew member and a female crew member, and it is reported that they were rescued from the tail section of the aircraft. They have been transferred to Mokpo Korean Hospital and Mokpo Central Hospital, respectively. Despite serious injuries, their lives are not in danger.
Explosion and Possible Cause
The aircraft exploded after colliding with a wall at the end of the airport. Initial investigations suggest that the landing gear may have malfunctioned.
The 25-year-old surviving crew member stated to the fire department, “Smoke started coming from one of the engines in the rear, followed by an explosion.” The survivor is currently being treated at a hospital in Mokpo.
The aircraft was manufactured in 2009 and has been in service for 15.4 years. The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation.
The CEO of Jeju Air, the airline behind the flight, has since expressed deep condolences and issued a formal apology.
Additionally, last messages from a passenger on the flight were released, drawing tears from netizens.
