Dozens Killed in South Korea Plane Crash

In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in South Korea’s history, at least 177 people lost their lives when a passenger plane crash-landed at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning. The Jeju Air flight, en route from Bangkok, Thailand, skidded off the runway and erupted into flames at 9:03 a.m. local time, leaving the nation shaken and grieving.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, met its devastating fate just as it touched down at the airport, located 289 kilometers southwest of Seoul. According to South Korea’s National Fire Agency, the crash was triggered by a bird strike that disrupted the plane’s landing gear, resulting in a catastrophic failure.

Emergency responders arrived quickly to contain the inferno that engulfed the aircraft. Despite their efforts, only two survivors—both crew members—were rescued from the wreckage. Officials said the 177 victims included 84 women, 82 men, and 11 whose identities remain unclear due to the intensity of the fire.

Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene as the plane landed on its belly, scraping the runway before a series of explosions tore through the fuselage. Thick columns of black smoke billowed into the sky, visible from miles away. One chilling text message from a passenger, reportedly sent moments before the crash, read: “Should I say my last words?”

South Korea’s Acting President, Choi Sang-mok, has declared a seven-day national mourning period and ordered all available resources to be deployed for rescue and recovery efforts. “Every agency must do everything in its power to save lives and support the families of the victims,” Choi said in an emergency statement.

Jeju Air, a prominent low-cost carrier established in 2005, expressed deep regret over what it called an “unprecedented tragedy.” The airline pledged full cooperation with investigators and support for the affected families. Although Jeju Air had no prior fatal accidents, a 2007 incident involving another of its aircraft raised safety concerns when a plane skidded off a runway in Busan, injuring several passengers.

The victims of Sunday’s crash were predominantly South Korean nationals, with two Thai citizens also confirmed onboard. Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, offered condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist the survivors and investigate the incident.

This calamity strikes at a time of political turbulence for South Korea, with the nation already reeling from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment. Critics argue that the current political chaos has left the country ill-prepared to handle crises of this magnitude.

As rescue teams continue their grim task of identifying remains, the tragedy at Muan International Airport has cast a long shadow over South Korea. It is a moment of national reckoning, a painful reminder of the fragility of human life and the importance of vigilance in the face of catastrophe.

For now, the nation mourns, seeking solace in unity as it grapples with an event that will undoubtedly leave scars on its collective memory.