The Incident

A passenger airliner skidded off the runway and erupted into flames Sunday at Muan airport, South Korea, claiming the lives of 179 people out of the 181 onboard. The incident, involving a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air, occurred at 9:03 a.m. when the plane landed after arriving from Bangkok.

The jet apparently impacted a concrete fence as its front landing gear failed to deploy, triggering one of the greatest aviation tragedies in South Korean history.

Victims and Survivors

Two crew members were saved by emergency personnel; they are receiving treatment for fractures but are in stable condition. So far, 88 victims have been identified among the 177 found bodies, the majority of whom are South Korean, along with two Thai nationals.

Information about the Crash

The plane skidded across the airstrip at high speed with its landing gear retracted, according to video footage broadcast by South Korean media. It then struck a concrete wall and burst into flames. Lee Jeong-hyeon, the chief of the Muan fire station, confirmed that the aircraft was destroyed, with just the tail assembly remaining intact.

A possible bird strike that was detected by the airport’s control tower just prior to the crash is one of the causes being investigated by investigators. The pilot issued a distress signal just prior to the accident, according to officials.

Research and Reaction

The plane’s black box recorders have been recovered by authorities, but it may take months to conduct a thorough examination. The runway of the Muan airport has been closed by the Transport Ministry until January 1.

The president of Jeju Air, Kim E-bae, apologized on television, saying that the plane had passed routine inspections and that the company would fully cooperate with any inquiries. Boeing offered Jeju Air its condolences and promised to help them deal with the tragedy.

Worldwide Responses

Muan was designated a special disaster zone by South Korean Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, guaranteeing resources for victim identification and family support. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol offered condolences and declared a weeklong national mourning period.

The relatives of the victims received condolences from world leaders, including Pope Francis, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Historical Background

Since a 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that claimed 228 lives, this tragedy is the biggest air disaster to hit South Korea. Similar to the 2010 Air India Express accident and 2007 Sao Paulo Airbus A320 crash, which both claimed over 150 lives, it is one of the most devastating landing accidents in the world.

South Korea is in grief as a result of this unfortunate incident, underscoring the necessity of thorough investigations and stringent safety inspections to avert similar tragedies in the future.

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Source : apnews

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