On Sunday morning, a Jeju Air plane, flight 7C2216, crashed at Muan Airport in southwestern South Korea after a failed landing attempt.
The plane, coming from Bangkok, left the runway and hit an exterior wall of the airport, causing a violent explosion and a devastating fire.
The flight was carrying 181 people, including 173 South Koreans, two Thais and six crew members. According to local authorities, at least 167 people are confirmed dead, with only two survivors, a 33-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, both crew members. The fire was brought under control after 43 minutes of fighting, but the plane’s fuselage was largely destroyed, making it difficult to identify the victims.
South Korean authorities have opened an investigation to determine the causes of the crash, but uncertainty remains. If some reports suggest a landing gear failure after a first unsuccessful landing attempt, another theory suggests that a collision with a bird could be the cause of the landing gear failure, which led to the attempt to land the plane on its belly, before it skidded and hit the wall.
The black boxes have been recovered and investigators are continuing their work, in the hope of lifting the veil on this tragedy. South Korea’s Transport Ministry said it will take time to conduct a thorough investigation, given the condition of the plane after the impact.
The plane crash also raises questions about aviation safety, as South Korea, like many other countries, has experienced a series of air disasters and serious incidents in recent years. The authorities, while expressing their sadness and solidarity with the families of the victims, call for international cooperation to shed light on the circumstances of this tragic accident.
