The tragic incident occurred early Sunday morning when the aircraft collided with a wall at Muan International Airport and exploded after landing on its belly. The Jeju Air flight, traveling from Bangkok, veered off the runway while attempting to land.
Local fire officials and aviation experts suggest that a malfunction in the landing gear was likely the cause of the crash.
South Korea plane crash kills at least 179 people (video)
Two crew members have been rescued from the wreckage, but rescuers warn that finding more survivors from the blaze is highly unlikely.
The Jeju Air jetliner was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, with the majority being South Korean nationals, except for two Thai passengers. Tragically, apart from the two rescued victims, all 181 people onboard are presumed dead.
“Jeju Air will spare no effort to respond to the accident. We are currently working to determine the exact cause and details of the situation,” a Jeju Air official stated.
The airline confirmed that the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, had been in operation for 15 years without a history of accidents.
South Korean authorities have so far confirmed 96 deaths based on bodies identified from the wreckage.
In a statement posted on its website, Jeju Air said, “We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident at Muan Airport. We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused.”
Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, also extended condolences to the victims’ families and announced it is in contact with Jeju Air.
“We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding Flight 2216 and stand ready to support them,” Boeing stated on its X account. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”
The crash adds to a challenging period for Boeing, which faced scrutiny after two 737 Max crashes in recent years, a tragedy for which the company admitted to deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration during the plane’s certification process.
