"MUAN COUNTY, South Korea, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The deadliest air accident ever in South Korea claimed 179 lives on Sunday, as an airplane crash-landed and skidded off the runway, bursting into flames upon impact with a wall at Muan International Airport.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew members, was attempting to land around 9 a.m. (0000 GMT) at the airport in the southern region of South Korea, according to the nation's transport ministry.
Two crew members survived the crash and were receiving medical care for their injuries.
This tragic incident marks the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil in nearly thirty years, the transport ministry noted.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, equipped with twin engines, was captured in local media footage skidding along the runway without visible landing gear, before colliding into navigation apparatus and a wall in a fiery explosion of debris.
Chief of the Muan fire department, Lee Jung-hyun, described the aircraft as severely damaged, with only the rear section recognizable, while the rest was barely identifiable.
The two surviving crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail end of the burning aircraft. They were being treated at hospitals for moderate to severe injuries, as stated by the head of the local public health center.
Authorities are investigating potential factors such as bird strikes and weather conditions, with bird strikes possibly affecting the landing gear operation, according to Lee. Yonhap news agency reported that airport officials suspected a bird strike may have caused the malfunction.
The crash stands as the worst aviation disaster involving a South Korean airline since the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam, which claimed over 200 lives, as per transportation ministry data. The deadliest crash on South Korean territory previously was an Air China incident in 2002 resulting in 129 fatalities.
Aviation experts have raised concerns based on reports of a bird strike and the method of landing the aircraft attempted. Gregory Alegi, an aviation expert and former instructor at Italy's air force academy, highlighted several unanswered questions about the incident.
Following global aviation protocols, South Korea will lead a civil inquiry into the accident, involving the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) from the United States, where the aircraft was manufactured.
The NTSB announced its deployment of a team of U.S. investigators to assist South Korea's aviation authority, with Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration also participating.
Several hours after the crash, distraught family members gathered at the airport, with some embracing and weeping as Red Cross volunteers distributed blankets.
Many victims are believed to be local residents returning from holiday trips, officials confirmed.
A transport ministry official revealed that the control tower had issued a bird strike alert, followed by the pilots declaring a mayday before attempting a landing from the opposite direction of the plane's original approach.
One passenger reportedly messaged a family member detailing a bird stuck in the wing, with the last communication reading, "Should I say my last words?"
Jeon Je-young, father of a passenger onboard, expressed shock and disbelief after viewing footage of the crash. He lamented the situation, emphasizing his daughter's young age and the sudden turn of events.
The Boeing 737-800 involved in the crash is among the world's most widely operated aircraft, known for its solid safety record. This model predates the MAX variant, which was linked to a recent Boeing safety crisis.
Manufactured in 2009, the aircraft featured two CFM56-7B26 engines produced by CFM International, a joint venture involving GE Aerospace and France's Safran, according to the transport ministry.
A spokesperson from CFM expressed condolences and sorrow for the loss of life in the Jeju Air flight 2216 accident.
CHALLENGE TO COUNTRY'S NEW INTERIM PRESIDENT
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae issued an apology for the incident during a televised briefing, expressing regret and assuring cooperation with investigators in prioritizing assistance to the bereaved.
Kerati Kijmanawat, president of Airports of Thailand, confirmed no irregularities were reported upon the aircraft's departure from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Passenger composition included two individuals from Thailand, with the majority believed to be South Korean nationals, according to the transportation ministry.
The fatal crash marked Jeju Air's first accident since its establishment in 2005. The low-cost carrier ranks as the third largest in South Korea in terms of passenger traffic, following Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines.
The tragedy occurred only three weeks after Jeju Air initiated regular flights from Muan to Bangkok and other Asian destinations on Dec. 8.
Although Muan International is one of South Korea's smaller airports, recent years have seen a significant increase in air traffic. Following the accident, all domestic and international flights at the airport were canceled, reported Yonhap.
South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok, appointed interim leader amid an ongoing political crisis, personally visited the crash site, pledging the government's full commitment to addressing the calamity.
Two Thai women, aged 22 and 45, were among the passengers on board, as confirmed by Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub. The Thai foreign ministry later verified their identities among the deceased.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended condolences to the victims' families and instructed the foreign ministry to offer support in the aftermath of the tragedy."