South Korea faces its worst aviation disaster, mourning 179 lives lost in the tragic Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport.
The crash involved a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers and crew from Thailand. It erupted into flames upon impact.
Investigators race to determine the cause of the crash, examining bird strikes and weather conditions as potential contributing factors.
Witnesses said the plane skidded off the runway, belly-landed, and hit a wall, causing devastation and heartbreak
Experts are scrutinizing why the aircraft’s landing gear wasn’t deployed and why it was traveling at an unusually high speed.
Flags flew at half-mast across South Korea as the nation began a seven-day mourning period to honor the victims.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country’s airline systems to prevent future tragedies.
South Korean and U.S. teams, including aviation experts and Boeing, investigated the disaster together.
Authorities recovered the black boxes to analyze the crash’s final moments.
Initial findings suggest a bird strike could have caused the plane to issue a mayday call before attempting its doomed landing.
The Jeju Air flight was powered by two CFM 56-7B26 engines, a reliable model that investigators are now closely examining.
Fire officials described the scene as catastrophic, with the aircraft “almost completely destroyed” and passengers tragically flung from the wreckage.
Out of the 181 onboard, only two crew members survived, rescued alive but critically injured from the smoldering remains.
Victims’ families waited in agony for news, camping overnight in special tents set up at Muan International Airport.
“I lost my son in this crash,” said one grieving father, who waited anxiously for his son’s remains to be identified.
Authorities have used DNA analysis and fingerprint matching to identify 141 victims so far, working to bring closure to families.
Specialists scour the wreckage, recovering human remains from the charred debris and melted fuselage.
The South Korean transport ministry pledged a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800s operating in the country.
Aviation policy bureau head Joo Jong-wan emphasized ensuring safety and transparency during the inspection process.
South Korea has maintained a strong air safety record, making this catastrophic event an unprecedented shock for the nation.
Flags at half-mast reflected national grief as officials visited the crash site to pay respects and support recovery efforts.
The acting president participated in a memorial service, offering condolences to grieving families and emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations.
The crash site remains a somber reminder of the disaster, with teams working tirelessly to uncover its cause.
Questions remain unanswered, but investigators hope findings from the black boxes will shed light on the flight’s tragic final moments.
Weather conditions at the time are under scrutiny, with experts examining their potential role in complicating the pilot’s emergency landing attempt.
Families continue to wait for closure, with many expressing frustration over delays in identifying loved ones lost in the crash.
This tragedy highlights the fragile balance of aviation safety and the devastating impact of unforeseen failures in the system.
Efforts to support the grieving families include counseling services and government assistance to help them cope with their unimaginable losses.
South Korea vows to learn from this tragedy, ensuring stricter regulations and enhanced measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The nation remains united in mourning, determined to honor the victims’ memories by uncovering the truth and enhancing air travel safety.
