On December 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea, killing 179 passengers. The ill-fated flight, which was coming from Bangkok, had been hit by a bird before the accident. Only two of the 181 people on board survived. Chilling videos of the crash show the aircraft skidding down the runway before bursting into flames.
Families Grapple with Devastating Loss
Grief consumed the families of the victims, who anxiously waited for news at the airport. Muan Fire Department Chief Lee Jeong-Hyeon confirmed the high death toll, saying, “It is presumed that most of the 181 people on board the plane have died.” A tearful family member told of her sister‘s struggle and recent happiness only to face this unimaginable loss.
Jeju Air CEO and Government Respond
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae extended his apologies and condolences, pledging cooperation with the investigation into the crash. “We bow our heads in apology to everyone who has trusted Jeju Air,” he said. South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok declared a seven-day national mourning period, expressing heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families.
A Historic Aviation Disaster
This incident marks South Korea’s deadliest aviation tragedy since the 1997 Korean Air Lines disaster, which claimed over 200 lives. As the nation mourns, authorities are working diligently to determine the cause of this heartbreaking event.
