A Jeju Air passenger plane crashed during landing in the city of Muan, South Korea, leading to a devastating tragedy.
The crash resulted in the death of at least 176 people, including 175 passengers and 6 crew members, while many others sustained injuries. Authorities have labeled this incident as one of South Korea’s worst aviation disasters in recent years.
Emergency Landing Ends in Catastrophe
The plane, en route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport in South Korea, lost control during landing and skidded off the runway. It collided with the airport’s perimeter fence and burst into flames. Reports suggest the crash was caused by a malfunction in the aircraft’s landing gear.
Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames, deploying 1,560 personnel and 32 fire trucks to the scene. Officials have launched a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Bird Strike Suspected
South Korea’s Ministry of Transportation’s Aviation Department has proposed various theories regarding the crash. Preliminary findings suggest that a bird strike might have occurred during landing. It was revealed that the control tower had issued a bird strike warning to the plane shortly before the incident.
Statement from Jeju Air
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae held a press conference following the crash, offering apologies to the victims’ families and stating that the cause of the crash remains unclear. The CEO assured that the airline is cooperating fully with government investigations.
A Day of Mourning for a Nation
The tragedy has plunged South Korea into grief, with the pain of the incident reverberating across the country. While on-site investigations continue, the exact cause of the crash will only be determined after a detailed analysis.
Authorities have begun efforts to support the families of the victims and assist those affected. In light of this disaster, there are increasing calls to strengthen aviation safety standards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
