179 Dead in Devastating 737-800 Jeju Air Crash at South Korea’s Muan Airport

A tragic plane crash at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on Sunday claimed the lives of 179 people, with two survivors pulled from the wreckage and two individuals still unaccounted for. The Boeing 737-800 Jeju Air flight, carrying 181 passengers and crew, when disaster struck.

The accident occurred at around 09:08 local time on December 29, 2024. The 737-800, with registration HL8088, was operating as flight JJA 2216, a scheduled five-hour flight from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

Sequence of Events Leading to the Crash

South Korean officials reported that a bird strike triggered the sequence of events leading to the crash. The pilot declared a mayday after encountering the bird strike, attempting to land on Runway 19 following instructions from air traffic control. However, as the plane approached the runway, it failed to lower its landing gear, striking a critical safety system known as a localizer and subsequently crashing into a wall. The aircraft skidded across the runway before bursting into flames, leaving behind only the tail section relatively intact.

The crash occurred at approximately 9:03 a.m. local time (7:03 p.m. ET Saturday). Emergency responders extinguished the blaze by 9:46 a.m. Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, which are expected to provide crucial insights into the final moments of the flight.

Deadliest Airline Disaster of the Year

The tragic incident marks the deadliest airline disaster of the year and the first fatal accident in the history of Jeju Air, a low-cost carrier founded in 2005. Among the 179 confirmed fatalities, 84 were women, 82 were men, and 11 victims’ genders were not immediately identifiable. Two survivors—a male flight attendant and a female passenger—suffered moderate injuries and remain hospitalized.

The National Fire Agency confirmed the identities of 88 victims by Sunday evening. At Muan International Airport, grief-stricken families gathered as officials carefully announced the names of those identified, with scenes of anguish and despair reported by local media.

Survivors and Witness Accounts

The two survivors, a 33-year-old flight attendant identified as Lee and a 25-year-old passenger named Koo, were rescued from the tail section of the plane. Lee sustained multiple injuries, including fractured ribs and spinal trauma, while Koo suffered head and ankle injuries. Both are in stable condition.

Eyewitness accounts shed light on the harrowing final moments of the aircraft. Lee Geun-Young, a local resident, described hearing loud bangs and seeing the plane flying unusually low over his restaurant before attempting a dangerous turn to approach the runway. “It felt dangerous, so I went to the rooftop to film,” he told the Korean news outlet Seoul Shinmun.

Emergency Response and Investigation

Over 1,500 personnel from multiple agencies, including South Korea’s military, were deployed to the crash site to conduct search and recovery operations. The deceased are temporarily being held in a makeshift mortuary at the airport.

South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, declared the crash site a “special disaster zone” and vowed a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading an American team, including representatives from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, to assist in the investigation.

Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae issued an official apology, assuming full responsibility for the tragedy and pledging support for the victims’ families. Boeing also expressed condolences, stating it was in contact with the airline to provide technical assistance.

Aviation Safety in Focus

The Boeing 737-800, a widely used narrow-body passenger jet, is part of Boeing’s Next-Generation family and is considered one of the company’s safest aircraft. Despite its strong safety record, this crash underscores the risks posed by unexpected incidents like bird strikes, which have led to similar accidents in the past.

The investigation into this devastating crash is expected to take several months, if not years, to conclude. For now, the focus remains on providing closure to grieving families and understanding how such a tragedy could have unfolded at a time when aviation safety has reached unprecedented levels.
The crash serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human life and the importance of continual advancements in aviation safety protocols.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com, nbcnews.com