A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed at Muan International Airport in South Korea, killing 122 people. The jet, carrying 175 passengers and six crew, slid on its belly, erupted into flames, and left wreckage scattered on the runway. Only two crew members survived. This is South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster since 1997.
The flight from Bangkok attempted landing after a mayday call warning of bird activity near the runway. Experts suggest a failure in the plane’s landing gear but emphasize more investigation is needed. The pilot tried a second runway after striking navigation equipment. Authorities have recovered the black box flight recorder but not the voice recording device.
Authorities, including South Korea’s Incident Investigation Committee, are probing the cause. Aviation experts described the crash as “perplexing,” given clear weather and the plane’s reliable safety record. Acting President Choi Sang-mok declared the site a disaster zone, pledging recovery support and a thorough investigation.
Boeing and Jeju Air expressed condolences. The tragic crash highlights the critical importance of aviation safety standards and thorough investigations to prevent future disasters.