MUAN – In a sad turn of events, a Jeju Air (7C) Boeing 737 carrying 181 people crashed during a landing attempt at Muan International Airport in South Korea, killing at least 124. The tragedy has generated grief and astonishment as authorities investigate the reason and support the surviving.
According to official accounts, the Boeing 737-800 was flying from Bangkok to Muan when it had problems landing. Following the disaster, horrifying photos circulated on social media, as did massive rescue operations.
Jeju Air Plane Crash
Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, which flew from Bangkok to Muan, South Korea, crashed while attempting a belly landing at Muan International Airport, about 288 kilometers from Seoul.
The Boeing 737-800, registration HL8088, swerved off the runway, hit with a fence, and caught fire. The flight carried 175 passengers and six crew members, with 124 fatalities reported so far. Emergency personnel are still working to determine the status of the other passengers and crew.
Eyewitness testimonies and video footage uploaded on social media depicted the aircraft’s botched landing attempt, which was followed by an explosion and large fireball.
While the cause of the crash is still being investigated, initial speculation provided by Aero World suggests that a bird strike or other operational issues may have contributed to the disaster.
Social media platforms have been swamped with footage of the incident, including the flaming aftermath and thick smoke rising from the scene.
Similar Incident
In a separate but equally terrible occurrence, an Azerbaijan Airlines (J2) Embraer 190 carrying 67 passengers crashed in Aktau. Authorities confirmed 29 survivors, while the other 38 people died.
The Azerbaijan Airlines (J2) aircraft 8243 from Baku to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya was diverted owing to bad weather in Grozny. Tragically, it crashed near Aktau airport in Kazakhstan.
Eyewitness statements and video footage uploaded on social media showed the aircraft descending quickly and exploding into a fireball upon impact. According to Euronews, Azerbaijani official sources say the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines E190 in Aktau was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile.
Social media was swamped with footage of the incident, including the plane’s descent and flaming aftermath. Other images showed first responders navigating through the wreckage in an effort to rescue survivors.
The international aviation community has expressed its sympathies, underlining the significance of a comprehensive investigation to better understand and prevent similar disasters.