Muan In. Airport, Dec 30, (V7N) -  South Korea began a weeklong national mourning period on Sunday after a devastating plane crash that killed 179 people, making it the deadliest air disaster in the country’s history. The crash occurred at Muan International Airport, located about 200 miles south of Seoul. The flight, Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, was traveling from Bangkok, Thailand, when it touched down at Muan Airport on Sunday morning. There were 175 passengers and 6 crew members on board, with victims ranging in age from 3 to 78 years old. Two crew members survived the crash and are being treated for injuries.

The crash happened after the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 built in 2009, landed without its landing gear deployed. The plane veered off the runway, crashed into a wall, and exploded into flames. The disaster was caught on video, which showed the plane skidding down the runway before the crash. Emergency crews quickly responded, but the plane was almost completely destroyed, and many passengers were thrown from the aircraft. As a result, the chances of survival were extremely low.

Bird-Strike Warning and Emergency Response

Just before the crash, the airport's control tower issued a bird-strike warning at 8:54 a.m., and the pilots declared an emergency at 8:59 a.m. As the aircraft attempted to land, it crashed just moments later, at 9:03 a.m. local time. Authorities said that a bird strike could have potentially caused a malfunction in the landing gear, although this has not been confirmed yet. Investigators are looking into whether weather conditions, bird strikes, or other factors contributed to the crash.

South Korea’s Transport Ministry has recovered both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder from the wreckage, and investigations are ongoing. The possibility of a malfunction with the landing gear is under close scrutiny. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft has a system that allows the landing gear to be manually deployed in case of a hydraulic failure, but experts are questioning why that feature did not work in this case.

Family Grief and Recovery Efforts

As the death toll continues to be updated, family members of the victims have been gathering at Muan International Airport, devastated by the loss. Many victims were residents from nearby areas, some returning from vacations. The families are being provided with support by volunteers from the Red Cross, who are offering blankets and assistance. The victims’ names are being announced slowly as authorities use DNA testing to identify the deceased. Saliva swabs are being collected from family members to match with the remains.

As the bodies are being recovered, medical professionals are also identifying victims through fingerprint records. Some families collapsed in shock as their loved ones’ names were read aloud. One family member, Jeon Je-young, lost his daughter, Mi-sook, in the crash. He expressed disbelief, stating, “When I saw the video, the plane seemed out of control. The pilots probably had no choice but to crash-land. My daughter, in her 40s, ended up like this. It’s unbelievable.”

Jeju Air's Response and Apology

Jeju Air, the largest budget airline in South Korea, has pledged full support for the victims’ families. The airline has an insurance plan valued at $1 billion to assist with compensation. Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim E-bae, issued a public apology and expressed deep condolences. “We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident,” the airline said in a statement. “We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused.”

Survivors and Their Conditions

Two crew members were rescued from the burning wreckage of the plane. Flight attendant Lee, 33, was severely injured, suffering fractures, including to his upper spine. Doctors are treating him with special care because of the risk of paralysis. Lee was reportedly able to communicate after waking up, though he has no memory loss. Another crew member, 25-year-old flight attendant Koo, was also rescued. She sustained injuries to her ankle and head but is in stable condition.

The two survivors are now being cared for in hospitals. Lee’s condition remains critical, with doctors monitoring the possibility of permanent paralysis.

Political and National Impact

This tragedy comes at a time of political turmoil in South Korea. Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who took office less than 48 hours before the crash, visited the scene to express condolences. Choi became acting president after the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, 2024, following his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Previous Deadliest Air Disaster in South Korea

The plane crash is now the deadliest air disaster in South Korean history, surpassing the previous record set in 2002, when a Boeing 767-200 operated by Air China crashed near Busan, killing 129 people. In 1997, a Korean Airlines flight crashed in Guam, killing 228 people.

Jeju Air’s Record and Airline Safety Concerns

This was the first fatal accident involving Jeju Air, which was founded in 2005. The airline has grown to become the largest low-cost carrier in South Korea. Industry experts have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the crash. While bird strikes and landing gear problems are not unusual, they rarely lead to such deadly outcomes. Safety analyst Henry Harteveldt highlighted that the 737’s design should have allowed the landing gear to deploy manually in an emergency, making the failure of this feature particularly concerning.

The quick timing of the crash also meant that safety crews were unable to apply foam to the runway, which might have reduced the intensity of the explosion and fire.

Next Steps in the Investigation

Investigators continue to gather data and evidence to determine the exact cause of the crash. The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder are being analyzed in hopes of providing more clarity. In the meantime, the investigation is focused on the possible causes of the bird strike, the malfunctioning landing gear, and any other factors that could have contributed to the crash.

The death toll may still change as more victims are identified, and the families await further information about the investigation and the fate of their loved ones.

The News Contributing: Reuters

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