Mon Dec 30 03:06:01 UTC 2024: ## South Korea Mourns After Deadly Jetliner Crash Kills 179
**Muan, South Korea** – A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 en route from Bangkok crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 179 of the 181 people on board. The aircraft, carrying predominantly South Korean passengers along with two Thai nationals, failed to deploy its landing gear, skidding off the runway at high speed before impacting a concrete barrier and bursting into flames.
Emergency responders recovered two surviving crew members who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. One survivor is being treated for rib, shoulder blade, and spinal fractures. The plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail section remaining largely intact, according to fire officials.
Footage of the crash shows the plane careening down the runway before the impact and subsequent fire. The control tower issued a bird warning shortly before the attempted landing, and the crew had requested permission to land in a different area. A distress signal was sent moments before the crash. Investigators have secured the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. The runway at Muan airport will remain closed until January 1st.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, although initial speculation focuses on a potential failure to deploy landing gear and possibly excessive speed upon landing. The government has declared Muan a special disaster zone and initiated a week-long national mourning period. President Yoon Suk Yeol, despite the ongoing political turmoil in the country, expressed condolences and ordered a full investigation. The accident is one of the deadliest in South Korea’s aviation history. Jeju Air has issued a public apology and vowed full cooperation with the investigation. International condolences have poured in, including from Thailand’s Prime Minister. The investigation is expected to take several months.
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