Mon Dec 30 18:33:08 UTC 2024: ## Two Flight Attendants Survive South Korean Plane Crash; 179 Dead
**Mokpo, South Korea** – A devastating plane crash at Muan International Airport, 290 kilometers south of Seoul, has claimed the lives of 179 people. The Jeju Air flight, originating in Bangkok, crashed during its landing attempt, leaving only two flight attendants as survivors.
The survivors, identified as 32-year-old Lee and 25-year-old Kwon, were pulled from the wreckage of the burning aircraft. Both women are suffering from injuries, including fractures and lacerations, but are conscious and out of immediate danger. Lee is receiving treatment at a Seoul hospital after being initially treated in Mokpo, while Kwon remains at Mokpo Central Hospital. Both reportedly have no memory of the crash.
Preliminary investigations suggest a landing gear malfunction may have caused the plane to skid off the runway, impacting a concrete fence before catching fire. The plane’s black boxes have been recovered, and investigators are examining them to determine the exact cause of the crash, with potential causes including maintenance issues or human error under consideration.
The tragedy has unfolded against a backdrop of significant political turmoil in South Korea. The nation’s ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, facing criminal charges of insurrection, is currently under investigation and a warrant for his arrest has been issued. Acting President Choi Sang-mok is navigating the aftermath of both the political crisis and the devastating air disaster.
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