South Korea plane crash kills 179 including boy, 3, after erupting into fireball just minutes after bird strike warning
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GB News
Air traffic controllers alerted the pilot of a South Korean passenger plane to a potential bird strike shortly before it crashed and exploded into flames - resulting in the deaths of 179 people.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, erupted into a fireball after it tried to land without wheels and veered off the runway.
Authorities have confirmed that the tragedy claimed the lives of all 175 passengers and four of the six crew members. The sole survivors were two crew members seated at the rear of the aircraft during the crash.
According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old.
The plane, which had 181 people on board, was attempting to land shortly after 9am local time at Muan International Airport
Reuters
The plane, which had 181 people on board, was attempting to land shortly after 9am local time at Muan International Airport.
It is the deadliest air accident involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades, according to ministry data.
The Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at around 9.03am local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy.
South Korea's transport ministry has confirmed that air traffic controllers alerted the pilots of the doomed flight to the risk of a bird strike just three minutes before the plane’s landing attempt.
The tail section of the plane is still intact though the rest of the aircraft is “unrecognisable”, Lee Jeong-hyun, the chief of Muan fire department said.
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The Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at around 9:03am local time
Reuters
The passengers included two Thai nationals and the rest are believed to be South Koreans, according to the transportation ministry.
A bird strike warning was issued by the control tower and soon after, the pilots declared mayday.
About one minute after the mayday call, the aircraft made its ill-fated attempt to land.
A passenger texted a relative to say a bird was stuck in the wing, the News1 agency reported. The person's final message was: "Should I say my last words?"
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for the rescue operations at the airport.
All but two are presumed dead
Reuters
Relatives of a passenger of the aircraft that crashed after it went off the runway, react at Muan International Airport
Reuters
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae and officials bow to apologise for their plane's incident at Muan International Airport
Reuters
“No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy,” he said at the scene.
He has declared a special disaster zone in Muan, which means central government funding will be available to local government and victims.
“We have a grave situation where a great loss of life occurred after a plane went off the runway in Muan airport this morning," Choi says, according to presidential office statement.
"I express my deepest condolences to the many victims in the incident. I will do all I can for the injured to quickly recover. I give my condolences to the victims and give my sincere regards to the bereaved families."
Jeju Air chief executive, Kim E-bae, has issued official apology saying: “Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident.
"At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies. Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has offered his “deepest condolences” to the victims and their families, saying his thoughts “are with the people of the Republic of Korea and Thailand at this terrible time”.
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