Mon Dec 30 19:30:00 UTC 2024: ## South Korea Mourns After Deadliest Air Crash in Nearly 30 Years
**Muan, South Korea** – Heartbreak and anguish filled Muan International Airport on Monday as families identified victims of a devastating plane crash that claimed the lives of nearly all 181 people aboard a Jeju Air flight. The Boeing 737-800, flying from Bangkok to Muan, crashed on Sunday morning, marking South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster in almost three decades.
Only two crew members survived the fiery crash. The remaining 179 passengers and crew perished when the aircraft, carrying 175 passengers and six crew, failed to deploy its landing gear and skidded across the runway before bursting into flames.
Grieving families gathered in the airport’s departures hall, some wailing and embracing, others murmuring prayers as medics announced the names of the identified victims. So far, 146 bodies have been identified, with efforts underway to identify the remaining 33. Several relatives expressed frustration at the lack of information from officials.
Investigators are focusing on the pilot’s report of a bird strike just prior to the emergency landing. The pilot issued multiple “mayday” calls before attempting a landing that tragically ended in disaster. While the control tower had warned the pilot about birds in the area, the exact sequence of events leading to the crash is still unclear, with some aviation experts questioning the potential impact of a bird strike alone.
Both black boxes have been recovered, but the flight recorder sustained damage and is undergoing analysis to determine the extent of recoverable data. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is assisting South Korean authorities in the investigation, alongside Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has declared seven days of national mourning and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the nation’s airline system, including inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft currently in operation within South Korea.
The investigation is underway, with authorities pledging transparency, as the nation grapples with the immense loss and profound sorrow from this catastrophic event. A public memorial has been established in Muan where mourners are laying flowers and candles. The victims included citizens from South Korea and Thailand.
First Piper 