WATCH: Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 Crash Leaves Over 179 Dead in South Korea
A tragic scene unfolded at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on Sunday morning when Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800, crashed and erupted into flames, killing 179 people. Shocking footage of the crash has since surfaced, capturing the moment the aircraft skidded along the runway and struck a barrier before exploding.
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Emergency Landing Ends in Disaster
The flight, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, carried 181 people, including 175 passengers and six crew members. According to South Korea’s transport ministry, the aircraft attempted a belly landing after its landing gear failed to deploy.
Video footage shared by aviation expert Alex Macheras shows the aircraft attempting to land without visible landing gear.
“The Boeing 737-800 hit the perimeter wall after skidding down the runway,” he stated. “The explosion of flames and debris was immediate.”
The fire chief at Muan, Lee Jung-hyun, described the wreckage: “Only the tail retains any shape. The rest of the plane is unrecognisable.” Two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section with medium to severe injuries.
Watch The Moment When Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 In The Video Below
📹 Sunday’s crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in South Korea was caught on video. The Boeing 737-800 with 181 people on board requested emergency landing after the landing gear failed to deploy. It skidded off the runway and hit a barrier, killing 179 passengers pic.twitter.com/JISEv4Wit6
— ZimLive (@zimlive) December 29, 2024
Investigation Underway
Officials are investigating possible causes, including bird strikes and weather conditions. “Bird strikes are being examined as a factor in the landing gear malfunction,” reported Yonhap News Agency. Search teams are combing nearby areas for victims who may have been thrown from the plane during the crash.
Jeju Air, South Korea’s largest low-cost airline, operates an all-Boeing fleet and has been known for its strong safety record. This is the deadliest airline disaster in South Korean history, and the worst for the airline in nearly three decades.
Heartbreaking Scenes at the Airport
Families of the victims gathered at the airport, many inconsolable as they awaited news. In a gut-wrenching scene, officials read out the names of 22 victims identified through fingerprints.
One grieving relative addressed officials through a microphone: “My older brother died, and I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know.” Red Cross volunteers distributed blankets to comfort families in distress.
Authorities and rescue teams continue recovery efforts, while the nation mourns its worst aviation tragedy.