179 Dead, 2 Survivors In South Korea’s Worst-Ever Aviation Disaster: Here’s What You Need To Know

Traveling

Last Updated:December 29, 2024, 21:23 IST

Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crashed into a wall at South Korea’s Muan International Airport, eliminating 179 out of 181 travelers aboard. This is the worst air travel catastrophe in the nation given that 1997.

A Jeju Air guest aircraft from Bangkok bring 175 travelers and 6 team members crashed at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on Saturday in the nation’s worst-ever air travel catastrophe, eliminating all however 2 individuals aboard.

Rescue operations have actually formally concluded as all travelers were validated dead and just 2 out of the 6 team members handled to endure the deadly crash of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 marks the most dangerous ever event in South Korea because a 1997 Korean Air Lines crash eliminated over 200 individuals.

The flight tried a crash landing after it suffered a breakdown in its landing equipment. Terrible visuals revealed the twin-engine airplane crashing into the wall at the external edge of the airport, emerging into a fireball followed by big plumes of black smoke.

South Korea’s brand-new Acting President Choi Sang-mok has actually revealed a seven-day nationwide grieving duration following the crash. “We extend our inmost acknowledgements and compassion to the bereaved households of those who lost their lives in this unanticipated catastrophe,” he said.

Choi also designated Muan as a special disaster zone, making it eligible for state support, according to Yonhap news agency. “We will provide all necessary assistance for recovery efforts, support for the bereaved families and medical treatment for the injured,” he mentioned.

Traveling Bird Strike Or Mechanical Glitch?

Numerous possible factors for the crash have actually emerged, with preliminary examinations indicating airframe failure following a “bird strike”. Fire officials said the bird strike flung passengers out of the plane and left it “almost completely destroyed”

According to Yonhapthe Jeju Air guest jet took approached Muan Airport at around 8:54 am (regional time) and stated mayday at 8:58 am simply one minute after the control tower provided a bird strike caution, while trying to crash land in the opposite instructions of the runway at 9 am.

Some experts have actually recommended alternative factors for the crash, consisting of technical problems. They argued that both the engines and brakes on both sides of the airplane should have stopped working for such a crash, which a bird strike alone might not have actually triggered synchronised failures in all important elements.

Air travel specialists mostly concurred that the unusable landing equipment was a direct reason for the crash. “A plane has several brakes, and if the landing equipment does not work, the reverse-propelled engines raise the wing flaps, which serve as airbrakes. They didn’t appear to have actually worked in this case,” said professor Choi Kee-young from Inha University.

Traveling Crash Site Smelled Of ‘Fuel And Blood’

Rescue workers used a giant yellow crane to lift the burned-out fuselage of the orange-and-white aircraft on the runway at Muan. Bits of plane seats and luggage were strewn across the field next to the runway, offering a grim sight of the catastrophic impact of the crash.

Lee Jeong-hyun, the chief of Muan Fire Department, said only the tail part retained a bit of shape after the crash, while the rest of the fuselage was “almost impossible to recognise”The 2 enduring team members were hospitalised while mortuary lorries lined up to take the bodies away.

Witnesses informed Reuters that the crash website gave off “air travel fuel and blood” as workers in protective suits and masks probed the area while the military was looking for bodies. A temporary morgue was set up in the area.

Traveling Plane Crash Triggers Outpouring Of Grief From Families

South Korea’s fire agency said 65 out of the 179 deceased victims had been identified. As the names of the victims were announced by Muan fire chief Lee inside the airport terminal, each name triggered fresh cries of grief as relatives screamed and wept.

One person shared that they had received a heartbreaking message from a passenger just moments before the crash, reporting that a bird had struck the plane’s wing. “Should I say my last words?” a message on the phone read.

“Is there no possibility of survival at all?” asked another grieving family member. “Regrettably, it appears so,” stated Lee with his head bowed. Some individuals required they be permitted to check out the website of the crash so that they might determine their relative.

“I had a child on board that aircraft,” an elderly man waiting in the airport lounge, who asked not to be named, told AFP. “My younger sister went to heaven today,” a 65-year-old female stated. All of the guests were Korean apart from 2 Thai nationals.

2 black boxes– the flight information recorder and the cockpit voice recorder– for Jeju Air flight 2216 have actually been discovered, a transportation authorities stated Sunday, with one in a partly harmed condition. It is anticipated to take months to identify the precise reason for the crash of this magnitude.

Traveling World Leaders Express Condolences

India on Sunday revealed its acknowledgements with the bereaved households of the 179 victims who were eliminated in the aircraft crash. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar revealed acknowledgements following the aircraft crash. “Deeply saddened by the terrible plane crash at the Muan worldwide airport. Extend acknowledgements to the bereaved households. Our ideas are with individuals of Republic of Korea at this tough time,” he said.

“Deeply saddened to learn of the tragic plane crash at Muan airport today. We extend our heartfelt condolences to bereaved family members,” stated Amit Kumar, the Indian Ambassador to South Korea. “The Indian Embassy stands in uniformity with individuals & & federal government of RoK in this hard hour,” he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his condolences to the victims. “On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I express my deep condolences to the victims and my sincerest consolations to the victims’ families, and wish for the swift recovery of the injured,” he was priced quote by state-run CCTV as stating.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba likewise revealed his acknowledgements over the event ion the neighbouring nation. “I am deeply saddened by the agonizing loss of many valuable lives due to the awful airliner mishap,” he said in an official statement.

Two Thai passengers were confirmed killed in the crash by the foreign ministry in Bangkok. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra sent condolences to the families of the dead and injured in a post on X, saying she had instructed the foreign ministry to provide assistance.

Traveling Jeju Air Apologises, Boeing Issues Statement

Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident, bowing deeply during a televised briefing. He said the aircraft had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction. The airline will cooperate with investigators and make supporting the bereaved its top priority, he added.

This was the first fatal flight for Jeju Air, a low-cost airline founded in 2005 that is South Korea’s third-most popular airline behind Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines. The accident occurred three weeks after Jeju Air started regular flights from Muan to Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Boeing, which has seen a turbulent time in the last few years due to a series of embarrassing safety missteps, extended its condolences to the families of victims and offered support to Jeju Air.

“We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew,” it stated in a declaration.

All domestic and global flights at Muan airport were cancelled.

Traveling Grim Period For Global Aviation

The deadly airplane crash in South Korea follows the December 25 crash-landing of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight near Aktau in Kazakhstan, eliminating 38 of the 67 on board. South Korea’s air travel market has a strong performance history for security, according to professionals.

The crash was the worst for any South Korean airline company considering that a 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that eliminated more than 200 individuals, according to transport ministry information. The previous worst mishap on South Korean soil was an Air China crash that eliminated 129 in 2002.

In a different occurrence, Canada’s Halifax Airport was momentarily closed on Saturday night after an aircraft showing up from St. John’s experienced a landing concern, triggering it to skid down the runway and partly ignite.

(with inputs from firms)

Area:

Seoul, South Korea

Released:

December 29, 2024, 19:44 IST

News world ‘Unexpected Tragedy’: 179 Killed In South Korea’s Deadliest Plane Crash, Just 2 Survivors Found

Learn more