According to Yonhap news agency, at around 9:07 am local time, Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport had an accident. The plane, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, skidded off the runway and caught fire at Muan airport.
By 10am local time, authorities had rescued two passengers from the tail section of the plane. Police and firefighters are still working to establish the exact number of victims.
Emergency response
Rescue teams immediately arrived on site to conduct search and rescue operations.
The flight, operated by Jeju Air, departed from Bangkok, Thailand, at 1.30am on December 29 and was scheduled to land at Muan Airport at 8.30am the same day.
However, the accident occurred near Runway 1 of Muan Airport. An official on the ground said the plane attempted to land but failed to reduce speed. During the first landing attempt, the aircraft failed to land normally and turned back for a second attempt, during which the accident occurred.
Explosion and possible cause
The plane exploded after colliding with a wall at the far end of the airport. From initial investigations it could be a malfunction of the landing gear.
At around 11:34 am (local time), South Korea’s National Fire Agency announced: “The death toll from the passenger plane crash at Muan Airport has risen to 47, with 2 people rescued.” .
At around 12:00 (local time), the death toll further increased to 62. Authorities are continuing rescue operations in full swing.
The surviving 25-year-old crew member told firefighters: “Smoke started coming out of one of the engines in the back, followed by an explosion.” The survivor is currently admitted to a hospital in Mokpo.
The aircraft was produced in 2009 and has been in service for 15.4 years. The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.
