
SEOUL, Dec 29 – A tragic airliner crash at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on Sunday morning has claimed the lives of at least 62 people, with two crew members rescued, according to the national fire agency.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, was en route from Bangkok, Thailand, when it veered off the runway during landing at 9 a.m. local time (0000 GMT). The aircraft erupted into flames upon slamming into a wall, creating a fiery scene that halted all domestic and international flights at the airport.
The fire agency confirmed that 58 bodies have been recovered so far, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue operations continue. Two survivors, believed to be crew members, were pulled from the wreckage, while efforts to locate additional survivors, particularly in the plane’s tail section, are ongoing.
Video footage shared by local media shows the aircraft skidding without landing gear before colliding with the wall, causing a massive explosion of fire and debris. Photos reveal parts of the plane engulfed in flames and smoke.
The passengers reportedly included two Thai nationals, while the rest are believed to be South Korean citizens.
Jeju Air has yet to determine the cause of the accident, and both Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration have not issued comments.
The disaster prompted immediate action from South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok, who ordered an all-out rescue operation. His office also convened an emergency meeting to address the crisis.
Muan International Airport remains closed as authorities focus on rescue efforts and an investigation into the tragedy.