A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft tragically crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, killing 179 people.
Details
- Initial Incident Details:
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, traveling from Bangkok, Thailand, was attempting to land at Muan Airport around 9 AM when it crashed, hitting an outer wall and bursting into flames. The flight had 175 passengers and six crew members, with 175 killed and two crew members surviving. - Investigation and Immediate Action:
Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered an immediate safety inspection of the entire airline operation system. Investigators are considering bird strikes and weather conditions as potential causes of the crash. - Initial Causes:
The pilots reported a bird strike during the landing attempt, and after declaring an emergency, they tried to go around. However, the aircraft landed belly first and crashed into a wall at the end of the runway. - Local and Global Response:
Most of the victims were local residents returning from holidays in Thailand, and two Thai nationals also died. Shares of Jeju Air dropped 15.7%. South Korea’s investigation will be supported by the NTSB and Boeing, with the flight’s data recorder recovered but potentially damaged.
