Plane Crash in South Korea, Possible Bird Strike Cited
A potentially devastating plane crash occurred in South Korea, with reports of multiple fatalities. According to officials, a Jeju Air flight made an emergency landing, but the landing gear failed to deploy properly, forcing the pilots to abort and attempt a belly landing. Two people were found alive as the rescue effort began, but mass casualties are feared, with 29 confirmed deaths so far.
The crash occurred on a flight from Baku, Azerbaijan, and was carrying 23 people in the tail section. Emergency services were contacted at 9:00 a.m. local time, and authorities are working to rescue those trapped in the tail section.
The incident comes as news of a different plane crash unfolds in Russia, where a commercial airliner from Azerbaijan was shot down, killing 38 people. The crash is thought to have occurred as a result of air defense systems responding to a Ukrainian drone strike in the region of Grozny.
Both incidents have generated shock and grief, with President Vladimir Putin apologizing for the Russian incident and expressing his condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. In the South Korean crash, Acting President Choi Sung-mok has ordered an all-out rescue effort, with the search and rescue mission ongoing.
As the situation continues to unfold, concerns remain high for the fate of those trapped in the tail section of the plane, with hopes of finding more survivors dwindling.