S Korea Plane Crash Highlights | Only 2 of 181 people on board survived; both Jeju Air black boxes found

At least 47 dead in South Korea plane crash

As per the Yonhap news agency, the aircraft drove off a runway and crashed into a wall at the Muan International Airport, located in the south west of the country.

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Plane crashes into a fence

A Jeju Air flight carrying 175 passengers and six crew members has crashed into a fence after veering off the runway in South Korea, as reported by Yonhap news agency. So far, 23 casualties have been confirmed.

Plane's landing gear appeared to have malfunctioned, reports Yonhap news agency

Emergency officials in Muan said they were examining the cause of the fire. They said the plane's landing gear appeared to have malfunctioned, reports AP.

Two people have been rescued from the crash, reports Yonhap news agency

Two Thai nationals were present on the flight, reports Newsis

All people on board except two presumed killed in Muan plane accident, reports Yonhap news agency

Jeju Air vows to provide all help to cope with deadly plane crash

Jeju Air Co. on Sunday said it will spare no effort to cope with a deadly crash of its flight carrying 181 passengers, which claimed dozens of lives so far, reports Yonhap news agency

South Korea’s land, infrastructure and transport ministry issues statement

South Korea’s land, infrastructure and transport ministry has issued a statement saying, "We are putting all our efforts into recovering from the Jeju Air Flight 2216 accident.

"The Accident Investigation Committee investigators arrived (10:10) and are currently investigating the cause, and have advised each airline and airport to operate the aircraft safely.

"The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is operating the Central Accident Response Headquarters and plans to respond company-wide to minimize casualties."

Acting president orders all-out efforts for rescue operations at Muan plane crash, reports Yonhap news agency

Jeju Air 'sincerely apologises' for fatal crash

"We deeply apologize 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," Jeju Air posted as message on their website

Visuals from the crash site

South Korea's acting president arrives at the crash site

Passengers were thrown out of the fuselage on impact, reports Newsis

According to Newsis, "The passenger plane was completely destroyed except for the tail section due to the impact and explosion.

"Fire authorities explained that the fuselage was damaged beyond recognition and some of the passengers were thrown out of the fuselage due to the impact."

Most passengers returning home after celebrating Christmas in Bangkok

Most of the passengers on the plane were returning from Bangkok after celebrating Christmas there. It was discovered that the travel agency chartered the aircraft to recruit Christmas travelers on its own, reports Newsis

Thailand PM offers condolences to the families of the deceased

Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra offers condolences to the families of the deceased. She took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote "In the case of Jeju Air, the initial report stated that 29 people died (this is the current report).

"I would like to express my condolences to the families of the deceased and injured.

"I have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently investigate whether there are any Thai passengers on this plane and what the current situation is. I have ordered immediate assistance.

"If there are Thai passengers, please contact their families to inform them of the progress and have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs report the situation at all times."

Boeing offers condolences after deadly South Korea airliner crash

Boeing offered condolences and said it is in touch with South Korea's Jeju Air after the deadly crash of an airliner on Sunday.

The crash involved a Boeing-made 737-800, according to Jeju Air.

Cause unclear, no early signs of plane's malfunction, says Jeju Air CEO as death toll mounts

Jeju Air CEO Lee Bae bowed his head and said through the ‘Jeju Air National Announcement’ on his website, “I bow my head and apologize to everyone who supports Jeju Air.”, reports Yonhap news agency

“It is difficult to determine the cause of the accident at this time, and we must await the official investigation announcement from the relevant government agencies. Regardless of the cause of the accident, I feel responsible as the CEO.”

Two people rescued are crew members

Two crew members one man and one woman, rescued from tail of the South Korean plane crash

Control tower sent warning of bird strike to plane before crash at South Korean Airport

'Heard multiple explosions, saw flames in jet's engine': Witnesses recount horror scenes from plane crash site

Witnesses to a deadly plane crash in South Korea's southwestern county of Muan on Sunday reported seeing flames in the jet's engine and hearing multiple explosions before the incident, reports Yonhap news agency

Special train to operate between Seoul-Mokpo to help families of Muan Airport victims: News1 reports

"Korail (Korea Railroad Corporation) announced on 29th that it will operate a special temporary train to support bereaved families of the Jeju Air passenger plane accident that occurred at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do.

"The down train departs Seoul Station at 3:00 PM and stops at Gwangmyeong, Osong, Iksan, Naju, and Mokpo Stations", reports News1

Korail further said, "Families of victims of the passenger plane accident can use temporary trains for free,” and “If additional temporary trains are needed, we will actively operate them.”

Death toll mounts to 120, hope to find survivors dwindles: Agencies

Families mourn the loss of loved ones

Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae and officials bow to apologise for their plane’s incident

Death toll climbs to 122, reports Yonhap news agency

Temporary morgue set up at Muan Airport

Yonhap news agency reported, "A temporary mortuary has been set up at Muan International Airport for victims of the passenger plane crash.

"On the 29th, South Jeolla Province formed a disaster safety headquarters and an on-site emergency rescue control team to deal with the accident, and set up a temporary mortuary at the Muan Airport site, where 94 bodies were placed.

We prepared 400 emergency relief kits, 1,500 blankets, 1,000 hot packs, and 800 meals for the bereaved families"

Death toll rises to 151 as rescue ops continue

Jeju Air crash deadliest on South Korean soil

The crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216 on Sunday marks the deadliest ever on South Korean soil and the worst involving a South Korean airline since a 1997 Korean Air Lines crash in Guam that killed more than 200.

The crash of the Boeing 737-800 at Muan International Airport is the first fatal accident involving the country's biggest budget airline, which was founded in 2005. Jeju Air ranks only behind Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines in terms of the number of passengers in South Korea.

The previous most deadly air accident in South Korea was in 2002, when a Boeing 767-200 operated by Air China crashed into a hill near South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan, killing 129 people and injuring 37.

South Korea's National Fire Agency says the crash triggered the issuing of response level 3

In a statement, South Korea's National Fire Agency says the crash triggered the issuing of response level 3.

The statement, on X, reads , "We will do our best to rescue people and recover from the accident until the end."

Acting President designates Muan as special disaster zone

Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Sunday designated the southwestern county of Muan as a special disaster zone eligible for state support following a deadly plane crash, reports Yonhap News

South Korea's suspended President Yoon expresses condolences

South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol sent "deep condolences" to the bereaved families in a Facebook post on Sunday.

(Reuters)

Death toll reaches 174 as Muan designated a special disaster zone

At least 174 people were killed and two were rescued after a passenger jet carrying 181 people belly-landed and exploded at an airport in South Korea's southwestern county of Muan on Sunday, South Korean news agency Yonhap said quoting the authorities.

177 dead, 2 missing as authorities investigate bird strike angle

As per South Korea's Yonhap news agency, 177 people have died while 2 have been reported missing in the Jeju Air plane crash on Sunday.

Pope says praying for South Korea plane crash victims

Pope Francis sent his prayers on Sunday to the victims of a plane crash in South Korea believed to have killed nearly 180 people.

"My thoughts are with the many families in South Korea who are mourning today following the dramatic plane crash. I join in prayer for the survivors and the dead," Francis said after the Angelus prayer. (AFP)

South Korean govt announces national mourning period till Jan 4

South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok, in an emergency meeting on Sunday evening, declared a national mourning period until Jan 4 over the plane crash at Muan International Airport. (Reuters)

179 dead, 2 rescued in South Korea plane crash carrying 181 people

179 people have died and two people were rescued from a plane carrying 181 people that crashed at the Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing rescue authorities. (Reuters)

One Jeju Air black box flight data recorder found: Officials (AFP)

Both Jeju Air black boxes found: Officials

Both black boxes -- the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder -- for Jeju Air flight 2216 have been found, a transport official said Sunday. (AFP)

Survivor of plane crash says 'When I woke up I had already been rescued'

One of two survivors of a plane crash that killed 179 others Sunday told doctors he had already been rescued when he woke up.

The 33-year-old survivor, surnamed Lee, was a flight attendant on the Jeju Air plane that burst into flames after belly-landing at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning.

He was initially taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Mokpo, 311 kilometers south of Seoul, but later transferred to Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital in the capital city. (Yonhap news agency)

Experts question bird strike as cause of South Korea plane crash

Uncertainty surrounds the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil, aviation experts said on Sunday, questioning how much impact a potential bird strike cited by authorities could have had in bringing down the Jeju Air flight.

The apparent absence of landing gear, the timing of the twin-engine Boeing 737-800's belly landing at Muan International Airport and the reports of a possible bird strike all raised questions that could not yet be answered.

The single-aisle aircraft was seen in video broadcast on local media skidding down the runway with no landing gear deployed before hitting a wall in an explosion of flame and debris.

"At this point there are a lot more questions than we have answers. Why was the plane going so fast? Why were the flaps not open? Why was the landing gear not down?" said Gregory Alegi, an aviation expert and former teacher at Italy's air force academy.

South Korean officials are investigating the crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, including the impact of a potential bird strike and the weather. 179 of 181 people on board died. (Reuters)