South Korea’s Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, with 181 passengers and crew on board, swerved off the runway and rammed a runway barrier while landing at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province.
According to South Korean officials cited by the local news sources, the aircraft was carrying 173 South Korean citizens and 2 Thai nationals. At this time, at least 28 fatalities have been confirmed, while at least three survivors have been rescued, one of whom is a crew member. The status of the remaining 151 passengers and crew members is still uncertain.
The crash happened shortly after 9 am local time as a Jeju Air flight, returning to South Korea from Bangkok, Thailand, was approaching Muan International Airport.
The captain of Jeju Air flight 2216, which was traveling from Bangkok, reportedly attempted a belly landing due to a malfunction in the deployment of the aircraft’s landing gear, as reported by local news sources. Officials present at the scene indicated that during the emergency landing maneuver, the aircraft was unable to sufficiently decrease its speed as it neared the end of the runway.
The plane disintegrated on impact, sending dense clouds of smoke billowing from the crash site. According to local reports, airport firefighters were attempting to douse the flames and assist passengers trapped in the tail section of the aircraft.
A video shared on social media networks shows a large aircraft sliding off the runway and igniting in flames.
