- By Imran Zafar
- Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:34 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A video capturing the dramatic crash of a Jeju Air flight at South Korea's Muan International Airport is being widely circulated online, showing the Boeing 737-800 sliding off the runway, colliding with a fence and erupting in a massive explosion. Flames and thick black smoke are seen engulfing the aircraft after the accident that left 179 of the 181 onboard presumed dead, according to the local firefighting agency.
The footage reveals the plane attempting a 'belly landing' without fully deploying its landing gear just moments before the crash. Emergency services were alerted around 9 am (local time) on Sunday, followed by a massive rescue operation involving 32 fire engines and numerous firefighters.
Jeju Air Crash Landing At Muan International Airport
— 大島せの🇯🇵 (@Oshima_Sen) December 29, 2024
That plane landing without gear Went off the runway and hit the airport fence.
28 dead
That plane fly from Bangkok, Thailand to Muan, South Korea
IWe always Use Korean Air and In Japan we Use ANA. pic.twitter.com/tFz2b58pHp
The ill-fated flight, returning from Bangkok, Thailand, carried 175 passengers and six crew members. The passengers included two Thai nationals, while the remainder were reportedly South Koreans, as stated by the transportation ministry. Only two crew members have been confirmed rescued.
ALSO READ: South Korea Plane Crash: What Led To Jeju Air Flight's Disastrous Landing; Here's What Officials Say
South Korea's acting President, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered an all-out rescue effort, urging agencies to deploy every available resource. "All relevant agencies should mobilize all available resources to rescue the personnel," Choi emphasised in a statement. His Chief of Staff has convened an emergency meeting to address the situation.
One more tragic flight ✈️ crash in SouthKorea... Due to bird hit & landing gear failure... 😣😢
— Yaaro ! (@yaro_evan) December 29, 2024
179 lives lost & 2 have survived
Heart goes out to their family & friends.. RIP their souls 🙏🏽💐😢#SouthKoreaPlaneCrash#jejuair #FlightAccident
🎥 & 🖼 credit to resp owners pic.twitter.com/7ncWfUgS9Y
The CEO of South Korea's Jeju Air Kim E-bae issued an apology to the victims of the plane crash. During a brief media statement, Kim stated that providing support to the bereaved families is the airline’s top priority at this time.