South Korea plane crash: Death toll rises to 85, says fire agency
1. "175 passengers, 6 crew members aboard plane crashed at Muan airport," reports news agency
SEOUL: At least 85 people lost their lives when an airliner veered off the runway and burst into flames after colliding with a wall at South Korea's Muan International Airport on Sunday, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The incident involved Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand. The crash occurred shortly after 9 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) as the aircraft was landing, South Korea's transport ministry confirmed.
Authorities have recovered 33 bodies so far, but officials warn the toll may rise. Two survivors have been located, and rescue operations are ongoing, a Muan fire department representative said. Yonhap later reported that three people had been rescued.
Efforts are focused on accessing the tail section, where passengers might still be trapped, an airport official told Reuters.
Footage broadcast by local media showed the twin-engine aircraft skidding along the runway without visible landing gear before striking a wall and erupting in flames and debris. Photos from the scene revealed heavy smoke and fire consuming parts of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The transport ministry stated that the passengers included two Thai nationals, while the rest are believed to be South Koreans.
Jeju Air, a low-cost carrier operating the flight, is working to confirm details about the accident, including casualties and the cause, according to an airline spokesperson. Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration have not yet commented on the crash.
South Korea's Acting President Choi Sang-mok, appointed just days earlier amid a political crisis, has directed a full-scale rescue effort. "All relevant agencies must mobilize every available resource to save lives," his office said in a statement.
Jeju Air has apologized and pledged its full cooperation in the aftermath of the tragedy. "We at Jeju Air will do everything in our power in response to this accident. We sincerely apologize for causing concern," the airline said in a statement shared on its social media platforms.
