There were three airplane crashes in the last 24 hours
Just two of the 181 passengers and crew aboard a South Korean airliner survived after the jet crash-landed at Muan International Airport in the country’s southwest on Sunday morning, local time.
The aircraft skidded along the runway on its belly before erupting into flames. The two survivors — a male and a female crew member — were rescued from the tail section, the only part of the plane that retained some structural integrity, according to emergency services. Those onboard ranged in age from 3 to 78.
This marks South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster since 1997, when a Korean Airlines Boeing 747 crashed in Guam, killing 228 people.
Key Details:
Fiery crash:
Footage showed the Jeju Air flight sliding at high speed along the runway without visible front or rear landing gear. It hit an embankment and burst into a fireball, with smoke pouring from the rear of the aircraft.
Search for a cause:
Officials suspect a malfunction in the landing gear. Lee Jeong-hyun, head of the Muan Fire Department, cited possible causes such as a bird strike or bad weather, but emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages. Aviation experts have cautioned against premature speculation. The National Transportation Safety Board announced that a team of U.S. investigators would assist in determining the cause, a process that could take years.
Aircraft safety record:
The plane involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800, a model known for its strong safety record despite Boeing’s recent troubles with the 737 Max. Jeju Air, South Korea's largest low-cost airline, also boasts a solid safety history.
Black boxes recovered:
Both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, critical for understanding the crash, have been retrieved, South Korea’s land ministry confirmed.
Grieving families:
Heartbreaking scenes unfolded at Muan International Airport as relatives gathered to hear news of their loved ones. Many broke into tears as authorities read the victims’ names.
A grieving father shared his story with reporters: his daughter, a factory worker returning to South Korea from a family visit in Thailand, was among the victims. “I never thought that would be the last time I’d see her,” he said.
Another father, Jeon Je-Young, 71, mourned the loss of his daughter. “She was almost home, so she didn’t feel the need to call,” Jeon said. “In those final moments, she probably tried to reach out, but by then, it was too late.”
Political backdrop:
The crash coincides with a political crisis in South Korea. Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who assumed office just two days earlier, visited the crash site on Sunday, underscoring the government's struggle to navigate both the tragedy and the ongoing leadership uncertainty.