the essential
A Boeing 737 flying from Bangkok, Thailand to Muan, South Korea, crashed on landing. At least 96 passengers died. The plane probably hit birds.
Aerial drama in South Korea. A Boeing 737 crashed on landing in Muan during the night from Saturday to Sunday. The plane took off from Bangkok, Thailand. 181 people were on board. The provisional toll is at least 96 dead. The flight was operated by the low-cost airline Jeju Air.
What happened?
Flight JJA-2216 took off from Bangkok in Thailand to Muan in South Korea, 290 km south of the capital Seoul. Video shows the Boeing 737-8AS landing with smoke coming from the engines. The plane appeared to hit an obstacle at the end of the runway before being immediately engulfed in flames. The body of the aircraft is completely charred with the exception of the tail.
What is the human toll?
The provisional toll is at least 96 dead. Unfortunately, it could get heavier in the coming hours. The plane was carrying 181 people, 175 passengers and 6 crew members.
What caused the crash?
A collision between the plane and birds would be the favored theory. “The cause of the accident is believed to be a collision with birds combined with unfavorable weather conditions. However, the exact cause will be announced after an investigation,” said Lee Jeong-hyun, head of the fire station. Muan firefighters, during a press briefing.
AFP
Was the device recent?
The plane belonged to Jeju Air, one of South Korea's largest low-cost airlines. This is the first fatal accident in the history of this airline. The device entered service in 2009, according to the specialist site Flightradar.
Is South Korea a safe country when it comes to aviation?
Plane crashes are very rare in South Korea. The most serious plane accident to take place in South Korea remains the crash on a hill near Busan-Gimhae Airport of an Air China Boeing 767 from Beijing, which killed 129 people. died on April 15, 2002. The deadliest disaster for a South Korean company remains that of a Korean Air Boeing 747 flying from New York to Seoul via Anchorage (Alaska), which was shot down by a Soviet fighter over the Sea of Japan, causing the death of 246 passengers and 23 crew members on September 1, 1983.
