SEOUL — A Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea’s southwestern region, resulting in 179 fatalities.
The aircraft, a Boeing B737-800 operating as Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, was arriving from Bangkok at approximately 9:07 a.m. local time on Sunday when it collided with the airport’s outer structure, sparking a massive fire, according to reports by the Yonhap News Agency. The incident led to significant damage to the plane and surrounding infrastructure.
Authorities confirmed that the flight carried 175 passengers and six crew members. Among the passengers, 173 were South Korean nationals, while two were from Thailand.
BREAKING NEWS: At least 28 killed as plane crashes at South Korean airport
The plane was carrying 181 people when it crashed in the southwestern city of Muan, according to officials. Casualties are expected to rise.a #Boeing B737-800 aircraft operating #jejuair Flight #7C2216… pic.twitter.com/uum5x9lcDP
— Dutch Times (@dutchtimes_nl) December 29, 2024
Video footage broadcast by South Korean media depicted thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage as emergency responders worked urgently at the scene. Firefighters and medical personnel surrounded the crash site, situated at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province. The airport lies along the country’s southwestern coastline, roughly three hours west of Busan.
In response to the incident, emergency services deployed a firefighting helicopter and over 80 personnel to assist in extinguishing the flames and conducting rescue operations. At least three survivors have been located so far, but rescue teams continue to assess the site for additional casualties.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
