A Jeju Air passenger jet carrying 181 people crash-landed and exploded at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday, leaving 176 dead and three missing, authorities said.
Yonhap news agency reported that the Boeing 737-800, en route from Bangkok, attempted to land at 9 a.m. when it veered off the runway, skidded without deploying its landing gear, and slammed into a concrete wall before it burst into flames.
The incident marked the country’s deadliest aviation disaster since 1997 Korean air crash in Guam.
Reports said two crew members survived with non-life-threatening injuries and are being treated in Seoul.
Search efforts continue for three missing individuals, with emergency alerts raised to the highest level.
Among the passengers were 175 Koreans and two Thai nationals, aged between three and 78 years. Most victims were in their 40s to 60s.
Preliminary investigations suggest the crash may have been caused by a bird strike leading to landing gear failure. Airport control had issued a bird strike warning minutes before the crash, and the plane declared a “Mayday” just before impact.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok visited the site, declaring Muan County a special disaster zone. He offered condolences to victims’ families and pledged comprehensive government support.
Rescue operations and investigations are ongoing.
