Jeju Air Flight Crashes in South Korea, Killing numerous people.

A tragic aviation accident occurred on December 29, 2024, involving Jeju Air Flight 2216 at Muan International Airport in South Korea.

A tragic aviation accident occurred on December 29, 2024, involving Jeju Air Flight 2216 at Muan International Airport in South Korea. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, carried 181 individuals—175 passengers and six crew members. During its landing attempt around 9:07 a.m. local time, the plane’s landing gear failed to deploy properly, resulting in a belly landing. Subsequently, the aircraft skidded off the runway, collided with a perimeter fence, and burst into flames.

Emergency responders, including approximately 80 firefighters, were dispatched to the scene and managed to control the fire within an hour. Despite their efforts, 47 fatalities have been confirmed, with only three survivors rescued from the wreckage. The majority of the victims were seated toward the rear of the aircraft. The passenger manifest included predominantly South Korean nationals and two Thai citizens.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a bird strike during the flight may have caused a malfunction in the landing gear. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered a comprehensive rescue operation and is expected to convene an emergency meeting to address the situation.

This incident marks the first fatal accident in Jeju Air’s history. The airline had previously experienced a non-fatal runway excursion in 2007 at Gimhae International Airport due to wind conditions.

As the investigation continues, authorities are focusing on determining the exact cause of the landing gear failure and assessing the overall safety protocols in place. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

-aviationinnepal