An aircraft with 181 on board crashed at South Korea’s Muan airport on Sunday, killing 47 and critically injuring many, after it suffered a bird strike during landing, reports AFP citing Yonhap news agency.
The incident occurred on Sunday at 9:03 am (1203 GMT) as Jeju Air Flight 2216, travelling from Bangkok to Muan, was attempting to land, according to the Ministry of Land.
“175 passengers (including 2 Thai nationals), 6 crew members aboard plane crashed at Muan airport,” Yonhap reported. The aircraft landing gear reportedly malfunctioned after the bird strike.
Meanwhile, one flight attendant and one passenger have been rescued so far, the national fire agency said in a statement.
The fire department informed Yonhap that emergency teams were conducting rescue operations from the aircraft’s rear section.
Also read: Moment when plane skidded off runway, burst into flames at South Korea airport
An image captured at the scene displayed the aircraft’s tail section ablaze near the runway’s edge, with emergency response vehicles and firefighting units positioned nearby.
The Muan International Airport is approximately 288 kilometres (179 miles) southwest of Seoul. The emergency services deployed 32 fire engines to respond to the incident and an on-site investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause.
Meanwhile, Acting President Choi Sang-mok directed officials to utilise all available resources for passenger rescue operations.
“All related agencies must mobilise all available resources to save the personnel,” he instructed officials in a statement.
His office announced that Choi would chair an emergency cabinet meeting to coordinate rescue efforts and response measures.
This marks the first fatal incident for Jeju Air, a prominent South Korean budget airline established in 2005.
Earlier in 2007, a Jeju Air Bombardier Q400 carrying 74 passengers skidded off the runway at Busan-Gimhae airport due to strong winds, resulting in twelve injuries.
