A devastating aviation accident occurred in South Korea when a commercial airplane carrying 181 individuals veered off the runway and erupted into a massive fireball. The incident, which took place at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning, is believed to have resulted in the death of all but two of the passengers and crew, according to South Korean media reports.
The ill-fated Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 was arriving from Thailand when its landing gear failed to deploy around 9 am, causing the aircraft to crash land. Subsequent reports and video footage of the incident showed the plane sliding uncontrollably past the runway’s end before exploding into a ball of fire.
According to officials, only two individuals were rescued from the burning wreckage. The plane was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members. The majority of the casualties were found in the tail section of the plane, which was the focus of the initial rescue efforts.
All the passengers were South Korean nationals, with the exception of two Thai nationals. In response to the disaster, 80 firefighters were dispatched to the scene to rescue passengers and extinguish the flames. By 9:46 am local time, officials reported that they had managed to bring the fire under control.
The plane’s landing attempt was fraught with difficulties. Prior to the crash landing, the flight had attempted one landing but was forced to abort and circle for a second attempt when the landing gear failed to lower normally. This procedure, known as a “go-around,” is a standard aviation protocol.
The cause of the landing gear failure is currently under investigation. One theory being considered by authorities is that a bird strike may have caused the malfunction, according to Yonhap News Agency. In response to the tragedy, South Korea’s acting-president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered a large-scale rescue operation and will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday morning.