Jeju Air Boeing 737 Crashes in South Korea Killing 179 Onboard

On 29th December, a tragic aviation disaster struck South Korea when a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed during its landing at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, killing 179 onboard.

The Boeing 737 aircraft was operating flight 2216 from Bangkok to Muan International Airport with 175 passengers and six crew members onboard. 

However, on approach to Muan International Airport, located approximately 288 kilometers from Seoul, the B737 veered off the runway and collided with a fence before bursting into flames. 

Jeju Air Flight 2216: Timeline of Known Events

• First Landing Attempt: At approximately 8:54 a.m., the aircraft attempted to land on runway 1 but was unsuccessful. The pilot initiated a go-around, a standard maneuver to abort the landing and try again.
• Bird Strike Warning: At 8:57 a.m., the airport control tower alerted the flight crew to potential bird strike risks. Just one minute later, at 8:58 a.m., the pilot issued a mayday distress signal.
• Emergency Landing Attempt: The plane attempted an emergency landing on runway 19 around 9:00 a.m. However, at 9:03 a.m., the aircraft crashed while attempting a belly landing, an emergency procedure where the plane lands without its landing gear fully extended.
• Impact and Fire: The plane failed to decelerate properly, striking the airport’s perimeter fences at high speed. The impact destroyed the aircraft and caused a fire, as confirmed by authorities.
• Flight Crew Details: The captain of the aircraft had been employed by Jeju Air since March 2019 and had accumulated over 6,820 hours of flight time. The co-pilot, who joined in February 2023, had logged over 1,650 flight hours.

Jeju Air Crash Fatalities

Emergency responders reported 179 fatalities, whereas two survivors were pulled from the debris and taken to hospital. Witnesses described a massive fireball at the crash site, underscoring the severity of the incident. 

Early reports suggest that the plane attempted to land without deploying its landing gear. Disturbing video footage captured the aircraft’s failed landing attempt, followed by the explosion. 

The cause of the incident remains unknown, and investigators are working to determine the events leading to the crash. 

Muan International Airport has been temporarily closed, and emergency teams are on-site assisting survivors and recovering victims. 

Some reports are even suspecting a bird strike to be the reason behind the incident.

This devastating accident has left the nation in mourning as families and authorities await further updates on the investigation.