South Korea Plane Crash: 62 Dead as Jeju Air Flight’s Landing Gear Fails | Video
South Korea Plane Crash: 62 Dead as Jeju Air Flight's Landing Gear Fails | Video (Photo Credit: YONHAP X handle )
Muan, South Korea, December 29, 2024 – A tragic aviation disaster struck South Korea on Sunday when a Jeju Air passenger plane burst into flames after skidding off the runway and slamming into a concrete fence at Muan International Airport. Officials report that the plane’s front landing gear failed to deploy, leading to one of the country’s deadliest plane crashes.
179 casualties' after plane with 181 people on board crashes in South Korea. 2 survivors.
— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) December 29, 2024
The plane’s landing gear failed to drop, so there were no brakes to slow the plane to a stop, so it just collided into the wall at close to full speed. pic.twitter.com/l0MVWQOtcN
Key Details of the Incident:
- Casualties: At least 62 people, including 37 women and 25 men, lost their lives. Emergency teams rescued two survivors—a passenger and a crew member.
- Aircraft Details: The plane carried 181 passengers, including two Thai nationals, and was returning from Bangkok.
- Time and Location: The crash occurred at 9:03 AM local time, approximately 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul.
Response and Investigation: The National Fire Agency deployed 32 fire trucks and several helicopters to extinguish the flames and aid in rescue operations. The fire was largely contained, but efforts continued to recover victims.
Footage aired on YTN television revealed the plane skidding with its landing gear retracted before colliding with a concrete wall. Emergency officials and the Transport Ministry are investigating the cause of the crash, with initial findings pointing to a landing gear malfunction.
This incident marks a grim day in South Korea’s aviation history, as authorities work to understand the sequence of events and prevent future tragedies.
