177 dead, 2 missing in South Korea’s Muan plane crash

A Jeju Air passenger jet carrying 181 people, including six crew members, crashed and exploded during landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea’s South Jeolla Province on Sunday (29 Dec). The disaster has left 177 people confirmed dead, with two still missing, and two crew members rescued. The Boeing 737-800, en route from Bangkok, attempted to land at approximately 9 a.m. without deploying its landing gear. The plane skidded along the runway, collided with a concrete wall, and burst into flames, creating a deafening explosion that left the aircraft almost entirely destroyed.

Authorities confirmed the deaths of 177 individuals and stated that the chances of survival for the missing two are extremely low. A firefighting official noted, “After the plane collided with the wall, passengers were thrown out of the aircraft. The remains are being recovered, which will take time due to the extent of destruction.” The 181 people aboard the flight included 175 passengers and six crew members, with most being South Korean nationals. Only two Thai nationals were among the passengers. Ages ranged from three to 78 years, with many in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Search operations will continue overnight, while a temporary morgue has been set up at Muan airport to handle the victims' remains.

Investigation and Preliminary Findings

Authorities suspect a landing gear failure, possibly caused by a bird strike, as the cause of the crash. The airport control tower had warned of a bird strike just six minutes before the accident. One minute later, the pilot issued a “Mayday” distress call, signalling a critical emergency. Acting President Choi Sang-mok declared Muan County a special disaster zone and visited the crash site to oversee the response efforts. Choi expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged full government support. The South Korean Land Ministry has launched an on-site investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Officials have also raised emergency alerts to their highest level, deploying all available rescue personnel.

Government and Corporate Responses

The presidential office convened an emergency meeting to coordinate interagency efforts for rescue operations, medical assistance, and the investigation. Acting National Police Agency Commissioner-General Lee Ho-young instructed all agencies to collaborate fully to assist survivors and recover the missing. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae issued a public apology, expressing condolences to the bereaved families and pledging to provide full support. “Regardless of the cause, I take full responsibility as the CEO,” Kim stated. This incident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in South Korea’s history, following the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam, which claimed 225 lives. Rescue and recovery operations are ongoing, and updates are expected as investigations continue.