South Korea Plane Crash: Over 179 Dead – Exclusive Video Coverage
A tragic aviation accident occurred on December 29, 2024, when Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed during landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea, resulting in 179 fatalities out of 181 occupants.
Incident Details:
- Flight Information: The Boeing 737-800 aircraft was operating as Jeju Air Flight 2216, a scheduled international passenger flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport near Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Korea.
- Crash Sequence: As the plane prepared to land, it was warned about the potential for a bird strike. Shortly after, the aircraft issued a mayday alert due to landing gear failure. During the emergency landing attempt, the plane overshot the runway, collided with a barrier, and exploded into flames.
- Casualties: Out of the 181 occupants, 179 people were confirmed dead, including 175 passengers and four crew members. The only survivors were two crew members rescued from the tail section of the aircraft.
Investigation and Response:
- Immediate Actions: Emergency services responded promptly, extinguishing the fire within 43 minutes and recovering the flight data recorders.
- Ongoing Investigation: Authorities, including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, are investigating multiple factors, such as potential bird strikes, mechanical issues, and pilot actions. Experts have questioned the bird strike explanation, suggesting a combination of factors may have contributed to the crash.
Context:
This incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea since the 1997 crash of Korean Air Flight 801 in Guam and the deadliest to occur on South Korean soil, surpassing the crash of Air China Flight 129 in 2002.
For a visual report on the incident, you can watch the following video: