In a devastating aviation disaster, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 people crash-landed at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on Sunday morning, resulting in the country’s deadliest air accident in nearly three decades.
The aircraft, Flight 7C2216, had departed from Bangkok and was attempting to land at Muan International Airport around 9 a.m. local time when it struck a barrier and burst into a massive fireball. The crash caused the plane to disintegrate into pieces, with only the tail section remaining identifiable.
Of the 175 passengers and six crew members onboard, 179 people were confirmed dead as of Sunday evening, according to the National Fire Agency. Only two crew members, found in the tail section, survived the crash.
South Korea’s aviation authorities are collaborating with international agencies to determine the cause of the accident. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading a team of investigators, joined by Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This marks the worst aviation tragedy in South Korea since the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam, which claimed over 200 lives.
The crash has plunged South Korea into mourning. Authorities are focusing on providing support to the victims’ families and conducting a thorough investigation to prevent future tragedies.
