A devastating crash in South Korea has claimed the lives of at least 151 people after a “Jeju Air” flight from Bangkok caught fire during its landing at Muan Airport. Authorities suspect a bird strike combined with harsh weather may have caused the tragedy.
(TIR-FAX) – At least 151 people have died after a “Jeju Air” flight from Bangkok crashed during its landing at Muan Airport in South Korea. The plane, a Boeing 737-8AS, crashed at around 09:03 local time, catching fire on impact. Authorities believe the crash may have been caused by a bird strike, compounded by adverse weather conditions.
The flight, which was carrying 181 people, included 175 passengers and six crew members. Two crew members survived the crash, but the remaining passengers and crew tragically lost their lives. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, where the aircraft was almost completely destroyed by fire, with only the tail section left relatively intact.
Jeju Air, one of South Korea’s major airlines, has expressed its condolences and pledged full cooperation with authorities in the investigation. This is the airline’s first fatal accident in its history.
The crash occurred after the plane hit an obstacle during landing, giving passengers little opportunity to escape. Local authorities are investigating the possibility of a bird strike, along with other potential causes such as the challenging weather conditions at the time.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has called for an urgent cabinet meeting and plans to visit the site later today. All available resources have been mobilised to support the response and recovery efforts.
This incident is one of South Korea’s deadliest aviation accidents in recent years. The worst disaster in the country’s history occurred in 1983, when a Korean Air flight was shot down by a Soviet fighter jet, killing 269 people.
