A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 people landed without landing gear, skidded off the runway, crashed into a wall, and then erupted into flames. The devastating airplane crash claimed the lives of at least 94 people at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on December 17, 2024.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216 departed from Bangkok, Thailand, and attempted to land at Muan International Airport shortly after 9:00 a.m. The South Korean Ministry of Transport described this as the most deadly air accident involving a South Korean airline since the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam, which killed more than 200 people.
Rescue workers initially focused on saving passengers and crew trapped in the tail section of the burning Boeing 737-800. Two crew members, a man and a woman, were pulled from the wreckage and hospitalized with medium to severe injuries, Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun confirmed during a press briefing. By 1:00 p.m., firefighters had extinguished the blaze, but the majority of the aircraft was left unrecognizable.
Casualties and Recovery Efforts
Authorities transitioned from rescue to recovery operations as the force of the crash threw some bodies outside the plane. At least 58 bodies have been recovered so far, but officials believe more victims remain unaccounted for. Yonhap News Agency cited reports suggesting most of the 175 passengers and six crew members onboard are presumed dead.
Video footage shared by local media showed the aircraft skidding along the runway without its landing gear before it exploded into flames. These images depicted the Jeju Air crash scene engulfed in smoke and fire.
Investigators are exploring multiple factors that may have contributed to the crash. A bird strike is being considered as a possible cause of the landing gear malfunction, according to airport authorities. A passenger’s final text message to a relative, reported by News1 Agency, mentioned a bird being stuck in the wing, with the chilling words, “Should I say my last words?”
Weather conditions at the time of the Jeju Air crash are also under review.
Official Responses
Jeju Air, the operator of the crashed Boeing 737-800, released a public apology for the tragic accident. The airline confirmed the aircraft was manufactured in 2009 and stated that it is actively investigating the cause of the crash alongside South Korean authorities.
Boeing expressed condolences in an emailed statement, saying, “We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”
South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok visited the crash site and assured the public that the government is dedicating all resources to handling the tragedy. Flights at Muan International Airport remain canceled as authorities focus on the recovery and investigation.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to work with South Korean officials to assist Thai nationals affected by the crash.
This is a developing story.
