Tragedy Strikes as Plane Crash Claims 174 Lives in South Korea’s Deadliest Air Disaster

In a heart-wrenching incident today, South Korea witnessed its deadliest air accident ever when a Jeju Air flight crash-landed at Muan International Airport, erupting into flames and claiming the lives of at least 174 people.  

The ill-fated flight, 7C2216, was en route from Bangkok, Thailand, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members. The Boeing 737-800 attempted to land shortly after 9 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) but belly-flopped onto the runway before veering off course and slamming into a wall, triggering a fiery explosion.  

Video footage shared by local media shows the plane skidding across the runway without its landing gear, engulfed in flames as debris scattered across the airport. “Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of the plane looks almost impossible to recognize,” said Muan Fire Chief Lee Jung-hyun during a press briefing.  

Tragically, only two crew members, a man and a woman were pulled alive from the wreckage, rescued from the plane’s tail section. They are now receiving treatment for medium to severe injuries, according to local health authorities. The remaining passengers and crew are presumed dead, making this the most devastating crash involving a South Korean airline in nearly 30 years.  

This catastrophe has left the nation reeling, with authorities now focused on uncovering what led to this tragic chain of events. For now, South Korea mourns the loss of so many lives in a disaster that has left an indelible mark on its aviation history.