A tragic plane crash at an airport in southwestern South Korea has left at least 177 people dead and only two survivors. The devastating incident occurred on Sunday when a Jeju Air passenger jet crash-landed at the airport in Muan county. The plane, which was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, burst into flames after sliding on its belly before coming to a stop.
The crash is the deadliest aviation accident to strike South Korea since 1997, when a Korean Airlines Boeing 747 crashed in Guam, killing 228 people. The cause of the crash is still unknown, but experts speculate that the plane’s undercarriage may not have fully deployed before landing.
Footage of the disaster shows the jet sliding quickly on its belly before colliding with an earthen embankment and exploding in flames. The video, which was aired by several South Korean news networks, does not show the front or rear landing gear.
The two survivors, a male and female crew member, were rescued from the wreckage and are receiving medical treatment. The South Jeolla Fire Service reported that 82 men, 83 women, and 12 individuals of unknown gender were among the victims.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with the national Incident Investigation Committee working to determine the cause of the accident. The “black box” flight data recorder has been found, but the voice recording device has not yet been recovered.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has declared the location of the crash a special disaster zone and promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. “We will focus all of our resources on helping the victims recover and get support,” Choi said in a statement.
The crash is a tragic reminder of the importance of aviation safety, and our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in this devastating tragedy.
