The Boeing 737-800 aircraft departed from Bangkok, Thailand, just after 2 a.m. local time (2 p.m. Saturday ET), as reported by FlightAware, a flight-tracking platform. On board were 175 passengers and six crew members, according to Joo Jong-wan, the director of the Aviation Policy Division at South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Joo mentioned that at least two passengers were Thai, with the majority believed to be Korean.
Following a bird strike alert, the pilot declared a mayday, leading to the tragic crash that resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Disturbing footage confirmed by NBC News depicted the plane skidding and exploding upon impact with a barrier. Only the tail section remained intact as flames engulfed the aircraft, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the sky.
The incident claimed the lives of 179 individuals, marking it as the deadliest airline disaster of the year and the first fatal accident in the history of the low-cost airline established in 2005. The national fire agency confirmed the identities of at least 88 victims, prompting anguished families to gather at Muan International Airport for updates. As the death toll rose, the Red Cross erected tents to offer privacy to grieving relatives while an announcer read out the names of the deceased, leading to heartbreaking reactions from the families.
Among the casualties, 84 were women, 82 were men, and the genders of 11 others were not immediately ascertainable. Two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued with moderate injuries but were conscious, as relayed by Joo. The flight attendant, identified as Lee, suffered severe injuries including fractured ribs and spinal trauma, while the second survivor, Koo, sustained injuries to her ankle and head and was in stable condition at Asan Medical Center in Seoul.
The disaster was believed to be triggered by a bird strike, according to Joo, who outlined the events leading to the crash. Initially attempting to land on Runway 1, the pilots were instructed to switch to Runway 19 due to a bird strike warning. Shortly after, a mayday signal was sent following a bird strike, and during the landing attempt on Runway 19, the plane failed to deploy the landing gear, striking a localizer system and ultimately crashing into a wall.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:03 a.m. local time (7:03 p.m. ET on Saturday), and firefighters extinguished the initial blaze by 9:46 a.m. local time, according to a spokesperson from the fire agency. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire, as stated by Joo during a briefing. Investigators have recovered both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, crucial for understanding the final moments of the tragic crash. The comprehensive investigation could span from six months to three years.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading an American team, which includes representatives from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, to aid South Korea in the investigation of the plane crash. President Joe Biden expressed readiness to offer any necessary assistance to Korea, emphasizing the strong bond between the American and South Korean people and extending thoughts and prayers to those affected by the incident.
Eyewitness Lee Geun-Young, who was inside his restaurant near the airport, recounted hearing loud noises and observing the plane flying perilously close before attempting to land. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae and other executives expressed remorse and apologies during a press briefing following the tragic event.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800, a widely used narrow-body passenger jet from Boeing’s Next-Generation family. Boeing and Jeju Air conveyed their condolences and apologies to the families impacted by the accident. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, called for immediate rescue efforts, declaring the site a special disaster zone and promising a thorough investigation into the crash.
Over 1,500 personnel from various agencies are participating in search and recovery operations, with the deceased temporarily housed at a makeshift mortuary established at the airport.
