Muan, South Korea – A tragic plane crash on Sunday morning at Muan International Airport marked the deadliest aviation accident in South Korea’s history, claiming 179 lives and leaving only two survivors.

The incident occurred as Jeju Air flight 7C2216, en route from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land at the airport.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, belly-landed at approximately 9:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT).

The plane skidded off the runway, collided with navigation equipment, and burst into flames upon striking a wall.

The South Korean Ministry of Transport confirmed the fatalities and reported that two crew members—a man and a woman—were rescued from the tail section of the burning aircraft. Both survivors sustained medium to severe injuries and are receiving treatment.

Fire Chief Lee Jung-hyun described the catastrophic scene:

“Only the tail part retains some semblance of shape. The rest of the plane is almost unrecognizable.”

Preliminary reports suggest a possible bird strike might have caused the landing gear to malfunction. A passenger had reportedly texted a relative, stating, “A bird is stuck in the wing,” before sending a final message, “Should I say my last words?” The control tower had issued a bird strike warning prior to the crash, and the pilots declared a mayday shortly before attempting a landing from the opposite direction.

Authorities are working closely with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing, as the aircraft was manufactured in 2009 by the American company.

The plane’s twin CFM56-7B26 engines were produced by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran.

CFM released a statement:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jeju Air flight 2216. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of those on board.”

Video footage from local media showed the plane skidding without visible landing gear before the fiery crash.

Emergency personnel combed the wreckage and nearby areas for victims who may have been ejected from the aircraft. Mortuary vehicles lined up to transport remains, and a temporary morgue was established to accommodate the high number of fatalities.

Witnesses at the airport’s arrival area expressed grief and frustration. One bereaved family member pleaded for clarity:

“My older brother died, and I don’t know what’s going on.”

Another asked for privacy, saying, “We are not monkeys in a zoo. We are the bereaved families.”

This disaster marks the worst crash involving a South Korean airline since a Korean Air crash in Guam in 1997, which killed over 200 people. It also surpasses the 2002 Air China crash in South Korea that claimed 129 lives.

Jeju Air, founded in 2005, is South Korea’s third-largest airline by passenger volume. This was its first fatal flight. The crash occurred just three weeks after Jeju Air launched regular routes between Muan and Bangkok.

Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae offered a public apology, bowing deeply during a press conference:

“This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are cooperating fully with investigators and prioritizing support for the victims’ families.”

South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok, recently named interim leader amidst a political crisis, visited the crash site and pledged full government resources to the investigation and relief efforts.

Thai officials confirmed that two Thai nationals were among the deceased. Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences and instructed the foreign ministry to assist the victims’ families.

All flights at Muan International Airport were canceled following the accident. The airport, one of South Korea’s smallest, had seen a surge in international passenger traffic, with numbers increasing nearly twentyfold in 2023.

Global aviation standards mandate that South Korea lead the investigation, with collaboration from the United States. Experts noted that bird strikes are common but rarely result in such catastrophic outcomes.

“A bird strike alone doesn’t typically bring down an aircraft. This incident raises significant questions that need answers,” said Geoffrey Thomas, editor of Airline News.

As investigators continue their work, families mourn the devastating loss of loved ones in what is now a somber chapter in South Korea’s aviation history.