Jeju Air jetliner crash kills nearly 180 in South Korea

A tragic aviation incident occurred at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday, December 29, 2024. A Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people, including 175 passengers and six crew members, crashed shortly after landing when its front landing gear failed to deploy. Reports indicate that the aircraft veered off the runway, collided with a concrete barrier, and ignited, resulting in catastrophic consequences. Both crew survivors were evacuated from the wreckage amid the chaos. According to initial investigations, a possible bird strike is being considered as a contributing factor. Eyewitnesses at the airport described a large flock of birds flying over the runway prior to the crash, with control tower records indicating that a bird strike warning was issued shortly before landing. In addition, the incident was compounded by marginal weather conditions, which raised further concerns about the plane's safety. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the crash site, where they discovered the remains of the aircraft engulfed in flames. Sadly, reports confirm that the death toll has risen to at least 177, including many women and men from various backgrounds. The tragedy deepens as authorities continue to search for the whereabouts of three individuals assumed to have perished in the crash, with hopes of recovering more victims fading with time. Investigations are now underway, involving the recovery of vital data from the aircraft's flight data and cockpit voice recorders. The findings will likely guide the ongoing inquiry into the specifics of what led to this disaster, a distressing event marking one of the worst aviation disasters in South Korea's history. Jeju Air President Kim E-bae expressed deep remorse for the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the tragedy and pledged to cooperate fully with investigative efforts. As the situation develops, the community is left mourning and grappling with the consequences of this devastating loss of life.