Mon Dec 30 05:13:18 UTC 2024: ## 179 Dead in South Korea’s Deadliest Plane Crash

**Muan, South Korea** – A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning, killing 179 of the 181 people onboard in South Korea’s deadliest plane crash. Only two flight attendants survived.

The flight, carrying mostly South Korean passengers returning from Christmas celebrations in Thailand, skidded off the runway and crashed into a wall shortly after landing. Victims ranged in age from three to 78, with five children under ten among the dead. Many families were traveling together, resulting in devastating losses for numerous families.

Among the victims was a family of three – a nephew and his two sons – who had been celebrating the end of their college entrance exams. Their grieving uncle, Maeng Gi-Su, told the BBC, “I can’t believe the entire family has just disappeared.” Another family lost five members spanning three generations.

Heartbreaking accounts emerged from bereaved relatives. One father recounted his last meeting with his daughter, who had returned from Bangkok with friends just days before the crash. Another described the devastation felt by her father, whose youngest daughter perished in the accident. Multiple witnesses reported seeing sparks on the plane’s wing and hearing explosions before the crash. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

The two surviving flight attendants, a man and a woman, suffered multiple injuries but are reportedly in stable condition. One survivor said he woke up after already having been rescued.

Hundreds of grieving families gathered at the airport, providing DNA samples to aid in the identification of victims. The South Korean government has declared a seven-day national mourning period and is providing support to the affected families. The lack of clarity on the cause of the crash, and whether it could have been avoided, has fueled anger and questions among the bereaved. One grieving father questioned why the plane couldn’t have landed on softer ground instead of the cement runway.

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