Live: Jeju Air plane crashes in South Korea; 179 presumed dead
A passenger plane carrying 181 people on board crashed while landing in Muan Airport on Dec 29.
Carmen Sin, Osmond Chia, David Fogarty, Lee Yulin, Fatimah Mujibah
Published: Dec 29, 2024
Key summary
- The accident took place at 9.03am (8.03am Singapore time) during the landing of Jeju Air Flight 2216.
- The flight was carrying 175 passengers and six crew from the Thai capital Bangkok.
The crash is believed to have been caused by "contact with birds, resulting in malfunctioning landing gear" as the plane attempted to land, Yonhap reported.
'What happened?': Flight attendant rescued in crash has no recollection of incident
A 33-year-old flight attendant, who was one of only two rescued from the crash, reportedly asked doctors why he was in hospital, reported The Korea Herald.
After doctors at Mokpo Hankook Hospital asked him about his condition, he responded with: "What happened? How am I here?"
The flight attendant, who has not been named, told doctors that the last thing he remembers is putting on a seatbelt before the landing, thinking the plane had almost landed.
He added that he has no recollection of what happened after that, and has injuries to his left shoulder and head. His role was to serve passengers near the back of the plane, added the news outlet.
Another woman who was rescued is also currently being treated at the same hospital.
Wildlife control at airports paramount: Aviation lecturer
Mr Gary Ho, senior aviation management lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic, said wildlife control at airports is critical due to the significant risks that bird strikes pose.
Collisions between birds and planes can severely damage engines and airframes, and cost lives.
At Singapore's Changi Airport – located in a "biodiverse region" – wildlife control is paramount, with advanced detection systems, habitat management and regular monitoring in force to mitigate the risks of unwanted encounters, he said.
85 confirmed dead
The death toll now stands at 85, according to the South Korean fire agency.
'Jeju Air will spare no effort to respond to the accident': Airline
In a brief statement on Dec 29, Jeju Air said it "will spare no effort" to cope with the deadly crash of its flight which was carrying 181 passengers, reported news agency Yonhap.
"We are currently working to determine the exact cause and details of the situation," an airline official said, adding that the aircraft had been in operation for 15 years with no history of accidents.
A notice on the airline's website, which has since been coloured in black and white, also says: "We deeply apologise to all those affected by the incident at Muan Airport. We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused."
Chinese envoy expresses condolences over tragedy
Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing has expressed his condolences to the victims of the crash and their families, reported Yonhap news agency.
In a post on social media platform X, he wrote that he was "deeply saddened" by the incident, which has left 179 of the 181 on board presumed dead.
"My heartfelt condolences go out to the victims and their families, and I extend on behalf of my colleagues our sympathies to those injured," he said.
The Chinese Embassy stands "in solidarity" with South Korea during this difficult time, he added.
All people on board, except two rescued, presumed dead: Yonhap
News outlet Yonhap, citing officials, reported that 179 of the 181 people on board are now presumed dead. Two people have been rescued – a crew member and a passenger.
Pilot attempted belly landing after landing gear failed: Local media
Moments before the deadly crash, the pilot of Jeju Air Flight 2216 had reportedly attempted a go-around – a standard aviation manoeuvre where pilots circle round for another try after an aborted landing.
It was on the second attempt that the landing gear malfunctioned, leading to an emergency belly landing near the end of the runway, reported the Korea Herald, citing the authorities.
A belly landing is an emergency landing where the aircraft hits the ground on its underside without its landing gear fully extended.
However, the plane was unable to slow down fully and smashed into the airport perimeter fences at speed, resulting in an instant fire.
'Unable to land due to bird stuck in wing': Passenger texts family minutes before crash
A passenger on board the doomed Jeju Air Flight 2216 on Dec 29 had sent a text message to a family member about the aircraft "not being able to land because of a bird on a wing", minutes before the incident, news outlet The Korea Herald reported.
"A bird is stuck in the wing, and we can't land. Just now. Should I leave my last words?"
The passenger has been unreachable since that last text message.
Death toll rises to 62
Fire authorities confirmed at least 62 fatalities in the Jeju Air crash.
At least 33 bodies recovered from crash
A fire official said at least 33 bodies have been found, but the number is not finalised, Reuters reported. Rescue operations are still under way.
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