A devastating plane crash occurred at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday, resulting in the loss of at least 47 lives. The Jeju Air jetliner, a Boeing 737-800, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members from Bangkok, Thailand, when it crash-landed at the airport.
According to local fire department officials, the plane suffered a landing gear malfunction, leading to the catastrophic accident. Rescue workers are currently focusing on reaching survivors trapped inside the tail section of the plane. The fire department reported that the plane was “almost completely destroyed” by fire.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has mobilized emergency responders to provide assistance at the crash site. Investigators from the Incident Investigation Committee arrived at the scene to determine the cause of the accident.
This tragic incident comes at a time of political turmoil in South Korea. The country’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was stripped of his powers by parliament two weeks ago, and his replacement, Han Duck-soo, was impeached on Friday. Choi Sang-mok, the finance minister and deputy prime minister, has taken over as acting president and is facing a major crisis just two days into his new role.
Among the passengers on board were two Thai nationals. The South Korean Land Ministry confirmed that the flight, Jeju Air 7C 2216, was carrying 181 people from Bangkok to Muan International Airport. The cause of the accident has been attributed to a landing gear malfunction, according to fire service officials.
