At least 29 people have been killed after a plane carrying 181 people crashed off the runway and smashed into a wall at Muan International Airport in South Korea. The Jeju Air flight was returning from Bangkok when the horror unfolded, according to the Yonhap news agency.
Authorities have confirmed the death toll, but say it is likely to rise, with the majority of the dead found in the tail of the plane. Two survivors have been pulled from the wreckage so far, with most of the passengers being Korean, except for two Thai nationals.
The crash is believed to have been caused by “contact with birds, resulting in malfunctioning landing gear” as the plane attempted to land at the airport in the country’s southwest. Footage has emerged of the moment the plane attempts to land, appearing to have an issue with its landing gear. The aircraft slides along the runway, failing to slow down, before slamming into the wall at the end of the runway and erupting into a ball of flames.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, with firefighters putting out the fire and search and rescue operations now underway. An on-site investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has called for the mobilisation of all resources to save the passengers. “All related agencies… must mobilise all available resources to save the personnel,” he instructed officials in a statement.
The plane, a Boeing 737, departed from Bangkok at 2:29am local time and was due to arrive at 8:30am, but landed at 8:59am.
