Jakarta, Idnonesia Sentinel — A Jeju Air commercial flight crashed during landing at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Sunday (December 29), resulting in a devastating fire and significant casualties.
Jeju Air was a South Korean commercial airline, operates several flights between South Korea and Southeast Asia using its fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
According to Reuters, the incident occurred on Sunday morning, December 29, local time. The plane reportedly veered off the runway and collided with a barrier before catching fire.
Crash Chronology
Jeju Air, with flight number 7C 2216 carrying 175 passengers and six crew members was crashed while landing. The flight had departed from Bangkok, Thailand, and was scheduled to land in Muan
The crash happened at 9:07 a.m. as the Jeju Air flight was landing at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, approximately 300 kilometers (179 miles) from Seoul. The aircraft veered off the runway and collided with an airport perimeter wall during landing.
Footage captured near Muan Airport shows the plane catching fire after the collision, with thick black smoke billowing from its heavily damaged fuselage.
Jeonnam’s Fire Department received an emergency report of the incident and promptly dispatched rescue teams and firefighting crews to extinguish the flames and assist in the evacuation efforts.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
Accoring to The Guardian, so far 62 fatalities have been confirmed, while authorities fear the death toll may rise as bodies remain inside the aircraft wreckage and rescue operations are still ongoing.
Details about survivors and injured passengers remain limited due to the extensive damage caused by the post-crash fire. It reported that two survivors including one passenger and one crew member, have been rescued and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
Possible Causes Under Investigation
Preliminary findings suggest that the plane may have suffered a landing gear malfunction during touchdown. the aircraft landed with its nose landing gear still elevated, suggesting a severely rough touchdown. causing it to lose control and overshoot the runway.
The Boeing jet then skidded uncontrollably toward the end of the runway, ultimately crashing into a barrier with no room to maneuver.
According to a recent report by South Korean news agency Yonhap, it reported that the crash might have been caused by a bird strike. The collision is believed to have damaged the plane’s landing gear as the aircraft attempted to touch down at the airport
A full investigation by South Korea’s aviation authorities is currently underway, with experts examining flight data recorders and other evidence from the crash site.
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Muan International Airport has temporarily suspended operations as authorities focus on rescue efforts and the investigation. The crash marks one of the most severe aviation incidents in South Korea in recent years, raising renewed concerns about safety protocols during adverse landing conditions.
(Raidi/Agung)
