South Korea: 179 Dead After Bird Strike Causes Plane Crash at Muan Airport
A bird strike and landing gear failure cause tragedy on Jeju Air flight from Bangkok
- The crash of Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport claims 179 lives
- Authorities believe a bird strike caused a malfunction in the plane's landing gear, leading to the crash
- Only two crew members survived, with both rescued from the wreckage as the fire was extinguished
A tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea has claimed the lives of at least 179 people, making it one of the nation’s deadliest aviation disasters.
The accident occurred on Sunday at 9:03 AM local time (00:03 GMT) when a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, crashed while attempting to land approximately 290 kilometers (180 miles) southwest of Seoul.
Authorities confirmed that 179 people—85 women, 84 men, and 10 others whose gender was not immediately identified—died in the crash. Two crew members survived, though they were rescued from the wreckage. The fire that engulfed the plane has since been extinguished.
Initial reports suggest the crash was caused by a bird strike, which led to a malfunction in the landing gear as the aircraft approached the runway. This disaster has been officially declared the deadliest air accident in South Korean history.
