Seoul: At least 85 people lost their lives after a plane caught fire and crash-landed at Muan International Airport in South Korea, said South Korea’s fire agency. The aircraft, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, caught fire after veering off the runway and colliding with the airport’s boundary wall during landing on Sunday. The plane was returning from Bangkok, carrying 181 people, including 175 passengers and six crew members.
Thick black smoke filled the sky as flames engulfed the plane, creating chaos at the airport. Local TV stations aired footage showing rescue teams working tirelessly to control the fire and evacuate passengers. Emergency officials managed to extinguish the flames, but the aftermath revealed significant casualties and injuries.
South Korea’s acting president expresses grief
South Korea’s acting President, Choi Sang-moo, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and directed immediate rescue and relief operations at the airport, as reported by Reuters. The emergency office reported that two survivors were found during the rescue, while the death toll is expected to rise as efforts to locate and aid those still trapped continue.
Yonhap news agency stated that the crash took place when the plane slipped off the runway and struck a fence. Investigators are now working to determine the exact cause of the fire and crash.
According to Associated Press reports, emergency workers pulled out two people — one passenger and one crew member. It said it deployed 32 fire trucks and several helicopters to contain the fire.
Kazakhstan plane crash
This accident follows a similar plane crash when an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. Reports suggest that the plane veered off course due to fog but was later mistakenly shot down by Russian air defenses.
President Vladimir Putin apologized to Azerbaijan’s leader for the “tragic incident,” although he did not officially confirm the plane was shot down.
