Authorities report that 179 passengers and crew are presumed dead after a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok crashed during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on Sunday morning.
The plane carried 181 individuals, with only two survivors—one passenger and one crew member—rescued from the tail section. Both are being treated at a nearby hospital.
The Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at 9:03 a.m. local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy. Witnesses described loud “bang” noises as the aircraft hit the airport’s perimeter wall, splitting in two and erupting into flames. Local broadcaster MBC shared footage suggesting a bird strike as the plane descended.
According to Yonhap News, air traffic controllers had warned the pilot at 8:57 a.m. about potential bird strike risks. The pilot issued a “mayday” call a minute later. The crash occurred three minutes after the first landing attempt. One survivor, a crew member, reportedly confirmed the bird strike as the likely cause, according to fire officials.
Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage, with bodies still trapped in the fuselage. Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder, though the cockpit voice recorder remains missing.
If confirmed, this incident would be South Korea’s worst domestic aviation disaster and the first major casualty event involving a low-cost carrier in the country. Previous major accidents include a 1993 Asiana Airlines crash that killed 68 and a 2002 Air China crash near Gimhae Airport that claimed 129 lives.
The National Police Agency has dispatched 169 forensic investigators to identify victims, while 579 officers assist with search and rescue efforts. The investigation into the crash’s cause continues.
