Jeju Air Flight tragedy claims 120 lives after bird strike causes crash during landing
A devastating plane crash at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on Sunday has claimed 120 lives, with rescue operations ongoing. The incident occurred when Jeju Air Flight 2216, carrying 181 passengers from Bangkok to Muan, suffered a bird strike that led to a malfunction in its landing gear, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Aircraft Destroyed Beyond Recognition
The South Korean fire department reported that the Boeing 737-800 jet, in service for 15 years, was “almost completely destroyed,” making it challenging to identify the deceased. Emergency teams are conducting rescue efforts from the aircraft’s rear section. As of now, only two survivors—a flight attendant and a passenger—have been rescued.
Rescue Operations and Investigation Underway
An image from the scene showed the tail section of the aircraft engulfed in flames near the runway, surrounded by emergency response vehicles. Firefighters deployed 32 engines to combat the blaze and assist in recovery operations. Acting President Choi Sang-mok directed officials to utilize all available resources for rescue efforts and announced an emergency cabinet meeting to coordinate the response.
Statement from Jeju Air CEO
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae expressed profound sorrow and extended condolences to the victims’ families. “We express our deepest apologies and will work closely with government agencies to determine the cause of this tragedy,” he stated. The CEO emphasized the airline’s commitment to supporting affected families and investigating the incident thoroughly
A Tragic Milestone for Jeju Air
This marks the first fatal accident for Jeju Air since its establishment in 2005. The airline had previously experienced a non-fatal incident in 2007 when a Bombardier Q400 skidded off the runway at Busan-Gimhae Airport, injuring twelve passengers.
Additional Context and Ongoing Efforts
The crash occurred at Muan International Airport, located 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to identify the exact cause of the accident, with initial reports pointing to the bird strike during landing as a critical factor. The best practices for airport wildlife management are expected to come under scrutiny following this incident.
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