This photo taken and released by the South Korean National Fire Agency shows the scene where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport. Photo / AFP
This photo taken and released by the South Korean National Fire Agency shows the scene where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport. Photo / AFP
A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea crashed on arrival on Sunday, smashing into a barrier and bursting into flames, leaving all but two feared dead.
A bird strike and adverse weather conditions were cited by authorities as likely causes ofthe crash that flung passengers out of the plane and left it “almost completely destroyed”, according to fire officials.
“Passengers were ejected from the aircraft after it collided with the wall, leaving little chance of survival,” a local fire official told families at a briefing, according to a statement released by the fire brigade.
Rescue personnel work near the tail section of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft after the plane crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport. Photo / AFP
“The plane is almost completely destroyed, and identifying the deceased is proving difficult. The process is taking time as we locate and recover the remains,” he was quoted as saying.
Only two people were rescued, both flight attendants, and 120 people were confirmed dead by mid-afternoon, the fire department said in a statement.
An AFP photographer saw the burned-out wreckage of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the runway at Muan - some 288km southwest of Seoul - as firefighters and emergency vehicles worked nearby.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters posted on X, formerly Twitter: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic plane crash at Muan Airport in South Korea”.
The accident took place in a matter of minutes from 9.03am local time during the landing of Flight 2216, the Ministry of Land said, with 175 passengers, including two Thai nationals, and six crew onboard.
“It took approximately three minutes from the control tower’s mention of a bird strike warning to the aircraft’s attempt to land on the runway again.”
Two minutes before the crash, the pilot issued a Mayday call, the ministry added.
When asked if the accident happened due to the runway being too short - video shows the plane coming off the tarmac and hitting a wall - an official said this was likely not a factor.
The plane skidded along the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea before bursting into flames. Photo / via video
“The runway is 2800m-long, and similar-sized aircraft have been operating on it without issues.
“It is unlikely that the accident was caused by the length of the runway.”
Lee JeongHyun, chief of Muan fire station, said during a briefing that the cause was “presumed to be a bird strike combined with adverse weather conditions”.
“However, the exact cause will be announced following a joint investigation,” Lee said.
A passenger (face digitally blurred at source) is transferred from an ambulance to a medical facility following the crash of the aircraft. Photo / AFP
Low-cost carrier Jeju Air apologised and vowed to do all it could to help.
“We sincerely apologise for causing concern,” the airline said in a statement posted on its social media channels.
Boeing said in a statement that it was in touch with Jeju Air and stood “ready to support them”.
Engulfed in flames
South Korea’s acting President Choi SangMok, who only took office on Friday, convened an emergency meeting with Cabinet members to discuss the rescue operations and response before heading to Muan, his office said.
“I believe no words of consolation would suffice for the bereaved families who have suffered this tragedy,” said Choi.
A plane carrying 181 people crashed off the runway and smashed into a wall at South Korea's Muan International Airport. Photo / AFP
“The entire government is working closely together to manage the aftermath of the accident, dedicating all available resources, while making every effort to ensure thorough support for the bereaved families.”
It is the first fatal accident in the history of Jeju Air, one of South Korea’s largest low-cost carriers, which was set up in 2005.
On August 12, 2007, a Bombardier Q400 operated by Jeju Air carrying 74 passengers came off the runway due to strong winds at the southern Busan-Gimhae airport, resulting in a dozen injuries.
South Korea’s aviation industry has a solid track record for safety, experts say.
Last year, a passenger opened an emergency exit on an Asiana Airlines flight as it was preparing to land, with the aircraft landing safely but several people hospitalised.
A number of fatal aviation accidents have occurred globally due to bird strikes, which can cause a loss of power if the animals are sucked into the air intakes.
In 2009, a US Airways Airbus A320 famously landed in New York’s Hudson River after bird strikes on both of its engines, in an incident widely known as the “Miracle on the Hudson” because there was no loss of life.
