Tragic Plane Crash in South Korea Claims 179 Lives

A devastating aviation accident in South Korea claimed 179 lives on Sunday when Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash-landed at Muan International Airport. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 175 passengers and six crew, was arriving from Bangkok when it skidded off the runway, collided with a wall, and erupted into flames.

Only two crew members survived, both with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities described the incident as the deadliest in South Korea since 1997.

Footage from the scene revealed the aircraft landing at high speed without visible landing gear, suggesting a potential malfunction. The control tower had issued a bird strike warning shortly before the crash, and the pilot sent a distress signal moments later.

Investigators recovered the plane’s black boxes to determine the cause, but preliminary analysis may take months. The crash site burned entirely, complicating victim identification. Officials reported that 141 of the deceased have been identified using fingerprints and DNA, but several bodies remain unrecognizable.

South Korea has declared the area a special disaster zone and vowed a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents.