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Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crash kills 179 people, marking the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil
The Boeing 737-800 was en route from Bangkok to Muan International Airport with 175 passengers and six crew onboard
Bird strike suspected to have caused landing gear malfunction, leading to the crash
In a tragic turn of events, 179 people were killed on Sunday, December 29, in South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster when a Jeju Air flight crash-landed at Muan International Airport.
The Boeing 737-800, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, erupted into flames after skidding off the runway and slamming into a wall.
The crash occurred at 9:03 a.m. local time (0003 GMT) as Flight 7C2216, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, attempted to land.
The South Korean Ministry of Transport confirmed the accident was the most fatal on South Korean soil and the worst involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades.
Video footage shared by local media shows the aircraft skidding on its belly with no visible landing gear, followed by a massive explosion.
The wreckage was nearly unrecognisable except for parts of the tail, said Muan Fire Chief Lee Jung-Hyun. Emergency responders rescued the two crew members from the tail section, both of whom sustained severe injuries and are receiving treatment.
Rescue teams are combing the crash site and surrounding areas for remains, as many bodies were thrown from the wreckage.
The National Fire Agency reported 179 fatalities, including 85 women, 84 men, and 10 whose genders were unidentifiable due to the fire’s intensity. Only 65 victims have been identified so far, officials said.
Preliminary investigations suggest a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction.
The control tower had issued a bird-strike warning before the pilots declared a Mayday and attempted an emergency landing.
According to News1 agency, a passenger texted a relative moments before the crash, asking, "Should I say my last words?" The person also mentioned a bird being stuck in the plane's wing.
Experts are questioning whether a bird strike alone could have led to such a catastrophic failure. Geoffrey Thomas, editor of Airline News, remarked that bird strikes and undercarriage issues are typically manageable.
South Korea is leading the investigation, with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board involved due to the Boeing aircraft’s American origin.
Grieving families and national mourning
The crash has left families devastated. Relatives gathered at the airport, some crying and demanding information. Others pleaded for privacy, saying, "We are not monkeys in a zoo."
The South Korean government has declared a seven-day national mourning period. Acting President Choi Sang-mok visited the crash site and pledged to mobilise all available resources for rescue and recovery efforts.
Jeju Air, Boeing respond
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised during a televised briefing and vowed to support the bereaved and cooperate fully with investigators. The airline, established in 2005, had no prior fatal accidents.
The ill-fated aircraft, a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, is known for its strong safety record. Boeing expressed condolences and stated that it is ready to support the investigation.
The crash occurred amid political turmoil in South Korea, where Acting President Choi recently assumed office following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The incident also highlights growing air traffic at Muan International Airport, one of the country’s smaller airports, with a significant rise in international passengers.
Abuja airport temporarily shut as cargo aircraft skids off runway
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, was temporarily closed on Wednesday, December 11, following an incident involving an Allied Air Cargo aircraft.
The aircraft, registered 5N-JRT, reportedly suffered a tyre burst upon landing on Runway 22 at 10:05 a.m., causing it to skid off the runway.