Plane catches fire in South Korea, causing at least 47 deaths

South Korean media reports that 47 deaths have been confirmed after a plane caught fire at an airport in the south of the country.

South Korea’s emergency office said the fire was almost out and rescuers were trying to remove passengers from the Jeju Air plane at Muan Airport. He said the plane was carrying 181 passengers returning from Bangkok.

Yonhap News Agency reported 28 deaths, but the emergency office could not immediately confirm the number of casualties. Other South Korean media outlets have given similar figures.

Images of the accident broadcast by the YTN television channel show the plane skidding on the landing strip, with its landing gear still appearing to be closed, before colliding head-on with a concrete wall on the outskirts of the track. The transport ministry said the incident occurred at 9:03 a.m. local time.

Local television channels broadcast images showing thick clouds of black smoke escaping from the plane consumed by flames.