Summary of developments:
One hundred and seventy-nine people are confirmed to have died in the catastrophic plane crash, which occurred on Sunday when a Jeju Air flight crash landed at Muan international airport.
The plane appeared to land without landing gear before colliding with a concrete embankment and exploding. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Two members of the flight’s crew have survived, including a man who was awake and speaking to doctors today.
Joe Biden offered his condolences and said the US was ready to provide “any necessary assistance”.
The Korean government is offering funeral services and temporary housing to families of the victims of the crash.
The country is in a seven-day national mourning period.
Updated
The passenger plane crash that killed 179 in South Korea comes at a time of political upheaval in the country, testing the government’s ability to administer a rapid disaster response, report the Guardian’s Raphael Rashid and Justin McCurry:
The incident has highlighted the potential risks that instability at the highest level of government poses to disaster response.
There were encouraging signs in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. South Korea’s rival political parties launched separate initiatives in response to the disaster, apparently setting aside the animosity of recent weeks.
The opposition Democratic party leader, Lee Jae-myung, left for Muan, where he plans to stay indefinitely to support rescue efforts, the Hankyoreh newspaper said, although he will stay away from the crash site while recovery operations continue.
The ruling People Power party, meanwhile, formed a taskforce focused on investigating the crash and supporting victims’ families. The party’s acting leader, Kweon Seong-dong, will visit Muan on Monday with taskforce members to “review accident response measures and prevention strategies” and meet bereaved families.
Joe Biden said in a statement on Sunday that he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the South Korea plane crash that killed all but two of the 181 passengers onboard.
“As close allies, the American people share deep bonds of friendship with the South Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy,” the statement said. “The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance.”
Updated
The father of a passenger who died in the Jeju Air crash in South Korea called the disaster “unbelievable”. Reuters reports:
Jeon Je-young keeps playing the video of the plane with his daughter and another 180 people on board slamming into a wall and bursting into flames at a South Korean airport.
His daughter Mi-sook died on board. He still can’t believe it. ‘When I saw the accident video, the plane seemed out of control,’ said 71-year-old Jeon. ‘The pilots probably had no choice but to do it. My daughter, who is only in her mid-40s, ended up like this. This is unbelievable.’
Mi-sook was a warm-hearted child, he said. She brought some food and next year’s calendar to his house on Dec. 21, which became his last brief moment with her. ‘She is much nicer than my son, sometimes asking me to go out for a meal,’ Jeon recalled, showing his last exchanges with his daughter on his mobile phone.
Updated
The Korean health ministry is reportedly providing counseling services to the families of the passengers who died in the catastrophic plane crash in Muan. The government has also offered temporary housing and help with funeral services to those families.
Updated
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a team of US investigators to help South Korea’s aviation authority in its investigation of the Jeju Air crash in Muan, Reuters reports. Boeing, the maker of the plane, and the Federal Aviation Administration are participating, NTSB said on Sunday.
Updated
A survivor of the deadly crash is awake and speaking with doctors, according to Yonhap News Agency. The 33-year-old flight attendant is one of two passengers who reportedly survived the Jeju Air crash that killed nearly all 181 people on board on Sunday.
The director of the Seoul hospital where the survivor is being treated told reporters that the patient is able to communicate and is not displaying memory loss or other cognitive symptoms. The other survivor, also a flight attendant, is reportedly in stable condition at a separate hospital.
Updated
Aviation experts question the theory that a bird strike caused the Jeju Air crash in South Korea that killed almost all of the 181 passengers on board, Reuters reports:
Uncertainty surrounds the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil, aviation experts said on Sunday, questioning how much impact a potential bird strike cited by authorities could have had in bringing down the Jeju Air flight.
The apparent absence of landing gear, the timing of the twin-engine Boeing 737-800’s belly landing at Muan International Airport and the reports of a possible bird strike all raised questions that could not yet be answered.
The single-aisle aircraft was seen in video broadcast on local media skidding down the runway with no landing gear deployed before hitting a wall in an explosion of flame and debris.
“At this point there are a lot more questions than we have answers. Why was the plane going so fast? Why were the flaps not open? Why was the landing gear not down?” said Gregory Alegi, an aviation expert and former teacher at Italy’s air force academy.
South Korean officials are investigating the crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, including the impact of a potential bird strike and the weather. 179 of 181 people on board died.
Deputy Transport Minister Joo Jong-wan said the runway’s 2,800-metre length was not a contributing factor, and that walls at the ends were built to industry standards.
A spokesperson for Jeju Air was not immediately available for comment. Jeju Air declined to comment on the cause during news conferences, saying an investigation is under way.
Christian Beckert, a flight safety expert and Lufthansa pilot, said the video footage suggested that aside from the reversers, most of the plane’s braking systems were not activated, creating a “big problem” and a fast landing.
Beckert said a bird strike was unlikely to have damaged the landing gear while it was still up, and that if it had happened when it was down, it would have been hard to raise again.
“It’s really, really very rare and very unusual not to lower the gear, because there are independent systems where we can lower the gear with an alternate system,” he said.
The probe should paint a clearer picture, he added.
Summary of what we know so far...
179 people were killed in South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster on Sunday after a plane – flying from Bangkok - crashed while landing at Muan international airport shortly after 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT).
Four crew members and all 175 passengers, including five children under the age of 10, were killed. Two people, both crew members, were rescued from the wreckage and taken to hospital. They suffered “mid to severe” injuries, authorities said.
Most passengers were South Koreans, apart from two Thai nationals, thought to be aged 22 and 45.
According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old.
Investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors behind the crash. Yonhap news agency cited airport authorities as saying a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction.
The plane involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800 flown by Korean budget airline Jeju Air. The runway at the airport is expected to be closed until 1 January.
Jeju Air said it “sincerely” apologised - with top officials shown bowing deeply at a press conference in Seoul - and vowed to do all it could to help.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, named interim leader of the country on Friday amid an ongoing political crisis, arrived at the scene of the accident and said the government was putting all its resources into dealing with the crash.
A transport ministry official said workers had retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the plane’s black box. They will be examined by government experts, but it could take up to a month to decode the flight data as it was damaged in the crash.
The country declared a seven day national mourning period effective from Sunday, with memorial altars to be set up nationwide.
Updated
Rebecca Ratcliffe is the Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent
Thai media outlet Khaosod has spoken to Thiraphat Cha-ue, the uncle of Sirithon Cha-ue, 22, who is one of two Thai women killed in the crash.
Sirithon, known by the nickname Mei, had been travelling to visit her mother, Suthinee, who has lived in South Korea for 10 years, Thiraphat said.
Sirithon’s mother had been waiting to collect her at the airport. When Thiraphat saw the news on social media, he was too afraid to call her, he said.
Thiraphat described Sirithon as the pride of the family. She had won a scholarship to study airline business management at Bangkok University and was in the fourth year of her course, he said. She dreamed of being an air hostess.
“There were only three months left before she graduated,” he said, adding the family, from Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand, had been discussing going to her upcoming graduation ceremony in Bangkok.
Tomorrow he would travel with Sirithon’s two younger brothers to South Korea, he said, to bring back her remains.
Updated
Thailand’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement that South Korean authorities had confirmed two Thai passengers were among the fatalities.
In the statement, the ministry said:
The ministry of foreign affairs has already contacted the relatives of the deceased Thai nationals, while the Royal Thai Embassy has coordinated with the South Korean authorities and Jeju Airlines who are now facilitating the relatives’ travel from Thailand to South Korea.
The ministry of foreign affairs would like to express its deepest condolences to all of the families of the deceased for their immense loss, particularly during this holiday season when families are traveling to reunite with loved ones.
Updated
Among the 177 bodies so far found, officials have so far identified 88 of them, the fire agency said. The passengers were predominantly South Korean, as well as two Thai nationals. Many of the passengers were reportedly returning from a Christmas spent in Thailand.
Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul
South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, whose impeachment trial is pending following his failed martial law declaration earlier this month, wrote on Facebook a message expressing “deep condolences to those who lost their precious lives and to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones”.
“I am devastated and heartbroken,” Yoon said. “I believe the government will do its best to manage the accident and support the victims. I will stand with the people to overcome this difficult situation as soon as possible.”
Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of many precious lives” in a message released through Tokyo’s foreign ministry. It follows similar messages of condolences, including from China, the UK and Ukraine.
One of two survivors is awake and responsive in hospital
One of the two survivors of a plane crash that killed 179 others Sunday has told doctors he had “already been rescued” when he awoke in hospital reports the Yonhap News Agency.
The 33-year-old survivor, known as Lee was working as a flight attendant on the Jeju Air plane that crashed Sunday morning.
Emergency services initially took Lee to a hospital in the nearby city of Mokpo, south of Seoul, but later transferred him to Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital in the capital city.
“When I woke up, I had already been rescued,” he told doctors at the hospital, according to its director Ju Woong.
“He’s fully able to communicate,” Ju said. “There’s no indication yet of memory loss or such.”
Lee is currently in intensive care after doctors diagnosed him with multiple fractures and risk of paralysis.
Updated
Flight's black box could take a month to decode - report
One of the two black boxes retrieved from the Jeju Air plane that crashed in South Korea on Sunday had sustained partial damage, reports the Yonhap news agency in South Korea.
The damage will likely delay analysis to identify the cause of the accident, land ministry officials said.
“Decoding the FDR alone could take about a month,” the official added.
“If we have difficulty decoding it here, then we may have to send it to the NTSB,” the second official said. “They have cases from all over the world to analyze, so it could take quite a bit of time.”
Updated
The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, says he is “deeply saddened” by the fatal Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea.
In a post on X, Lammy wrote: “My heartfelt condolences go out to the people of South Korea and Thailand, and all those that have lost loved ones.”
Updated
The cousin of a Thai passenger, 49-year-old Jongluk Doungmanee, who flew on the fatal Jeju Air plane says she is “saddened” and “shocked”.
Pornphichaya chalermsin, from Nong Wua So District, Udon Thani, told the BBC that her cousin Jongluk was residing in South Korea for five years with her two children, aged 7 and 15. She worked in agriculture with her Korean husband, whom she married three years ago.
In an interview with BBC Thai, she said she had “only ever seen such news from other countries and never thought it would involve Thai people”, adding that “watching the video footage made me feel even more distressed.
“I was shocked, I had goosebumps. I couldn’t believe it… when the news said one of the victims was from Udon Thani, I was even more surprised.”
Before her flight on Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, Joungluk was in Thailand visiting her family and traveling in Chiang Mai with her husband. Her husband returned to South Korea before she departed.
Jeju Air has declined to comment on the cause of the accident during news conferences, saying an investigation is under way. Under global aviation rules, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and automatically involve the National Transportation Safety Board in the US where the plane was designed and built.
Here are some of the latest images being sent over to us from the newswires:
All passengers and four crew killed in Jeju Air flight crash, officials confirm
179 people have died and two people were rescued from the plane carrying 181 people that crashed at the Muan international airport this morning, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing rescue authorities. This means that officials have now confirmed that all of the plane’s 175 passengers were killed in the crash, along with four flight staff. “Of the 179 dead, 65 have been identified,” South Korea’s fire agency said. The two surviving crew members were rescued from the tail of the aircraft and had suffered “mid to severe” injuries, authorities said. It is the deadliest air crash to occur in South Korea, surpassing the 1993 Asiana Airlines crash in Mokpo that killed over 60 people.
Updated
Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent his condolences to South Korea’s acting president Choi Sang-mok, regarding the deadly Jeju Air crash. Xi expressed shocked regarding the significant number of casualties and expressed deep mourning for the victims, condolences to the bereaved families, and wishes to the injured for a speedy recovery.
South Korea declares seven-day national mourning period over plane crash
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has declared a period of national mourning until 4 January over the plane crash at Muan international airport that killed at 1east 177 people.
“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in this unexpected tragedy,” he was quoted as saying. Flags at government offices will be lowered and civil servants will wear black ribbons, the BBC reports.
The incident is the first major test for Choi, who assumed office on Friday after South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach the previous acting president, Han Duck-soo.
Updated
What we know so far...
At least 177 people were killed in South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster on Sunday after a plane – flying from Bangkok - crashed while landing at Muan international airport shortly after 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT).
181 people were on board the plane at the time of the crash - including six crew members.
Two people, both crew members, were rescued from the wreckage and taken to hospital. They suffered “mid to severe” injuries, authorities said. Officials have suggested the rest on board are presumed dead.
84 women, 82 men and 11 others whose genders weren’t immediately identifiable died in the fire, the South Korean fire agency reported. Two people remained missing nine hours after the incident.
According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old. Five of the people who were killed in the crash were children under the age of 10.
A local fire official said the crash could have been caused by a bird strike and weather conditions, but the exact cause is not yet known.
The plane involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800 flown by Korean budget airline Jeju Air.
A transport ministry official said workers had retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the plane’s black box. They will be examined by government experts. The runway is expected to be closed until 1 January.
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident, bowing deeply during a televised briefing. He said the aircraft had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction.
Over 1,500 emergency personnel have been deployed to the site and a special disaster zone has been enforced.
You can read more of the latest developments here.
Updated
Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul
Airport staff have revealed that an unusually large flock of birds was spotted over Muan International Airport’s runway on Sunday morning, hours before the crash. “Staff members all said they had never seen so many birds before. They suddenly flew in from outside the airport,” an anonymous airport official told OhmyNews, adding that such a concentration of birds was never seen before.
The sighting raises questions about the adequacy of the airport’s bird control measures. While South Korean law requires airports to maintain year-round bird deterrent activities with dedicated personnel and equipment, it remains unclear what specific actions were taken in response to Sunday morning’s bird activity.
The transport ministry has previously confirmed that air traffic controllers warned the Jeju Air flight about bird strike risks at 08:57, with the pilot declaring a mayday one minute later. Footage taken as the aircraft approached the airport appears to show unusual flames coming from its right engine.
Updated
Five people killed in crash were children under the age of 10 - authorities
The Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok had 175 passengers, including two Thai nationals, and six crew onboard.
According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old.
Five of the people who were killed in the crash were children under the age of 10, authorities said, citing the passenger manifest. Most of the passengers were in their 40s, 50s and 60s, South Korean Yonhap news agency reports.
Updated
Here is a video of the moment the Boeing 737-800 skidded along the runway before hitting what appeared to be a concrete barrier and bursting into flames at South Korea’s Muan airport (this video may be distressing to some people):
Death toll from plane crash rises to 177 - South Korean fire agency says
At least 177 people - 84 women, 82 men and 11 others whose genders weren’t immediately identifiable – died in the fire, the South Korean fire agency has said in its latest update. Emergency workers pulled two people, both crew members, to safety. Health officials said they are conscious and not in life-threatening condition.
Updated
Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has sent condolences to the families of those killed in the deadly plane crash. “We have received terrible news of a plane crash in South Korea with many fatalities. Our condolences go out to the families of those killed in the crash and we wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he wrote in a post on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said:
On behalf of the Ukrainian people and myself, I extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the people of Korea, and Acting President Choi Sang-mok. We share your sorrow and stand with the Korean people in this time of grief.
Updated
Death toll rises to 176, officials say
The death toll from Sunday’s Jeju Air crash has climbed to 176, with three people still missing, South Korea’s fire agency has announced.
Search teams will continue working through the night to locate the remaining three missing persons. Only two crew members are understood to have survived.
Investigators recover both black boxes from wreckage of plane - transport ministry
According to the transport ministry, investigators have recovered both black boxes from the wreckage: the cockpit voice recorder at 11:30 and the flight data recorder at 14:24. Eight aircraft accident investigators and nine aviation safety inspectors are conducting initial investigations at the scene.
More than 1,500 personnel have been mobilised for the rescue and recovery operation, including 490 firefighters, 455 police officers, and 340 military personnel.
The airport’s runway will remain closed until 05:00 on 1 January 2025, though this timeframe may be adjusted.
A temporary morgue has been set up at the airport, with authorities working with families to arrange transfers of identified victims to external facilities.
Updated
Officials say air traffic controllers warned aircraft about bird strike risks minutes before crash
Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul
A bird strike has emerged as a possible factor in Sunday’s crash, after officials revealed that air traffic controllers warned the aircraft about bird strike risks minutes before the accident and one of the surviving crew members reportedly mentioned a bird strike after being rescued. While the exact cause remains under investigation, the incident has drawn attention to Muan International Airport’s history with such incidents, reports Yonhap News.
The airport has recorded the highest rate of bird strikes among South Korea’s 14 regional airports, with 10 incidents reported between 2019 and August this year, according to data submitted to parliament by the Korea Airports Corporation.
Though the absolute number is small, making it difficult to generalise into meaningful statistics, the strike rate of 0.09% of flights is significantly higher than other major airports like Gimpo (0.018%) and Jeju (0.013%).
Aviation experts say bird strikes can be catastrophic. The risk is particularly high at Muan due to its location near fields and coastal areas.
Nationwide bird strike incidents have been steadily increasing, from 108 in 2019 to 152 last year. Some suggest this rise could be linked to climate change, with migratory birds becoming permanent residents and shifts occurring in both the timing and species of birds appearing at airports. Airports employ various countermeasures including sound deterrents and monitoring systems, while some are now exploring AI and radar technology to track bird movements.
Updated
All flights arriving at South Korea’s Muan international airport have been cancelled on Sunday, the Korea Airports Corporation said this morning.
Hours after the crash (the plane was attempting to land shortly after 9am local time/00.00 GMT)), family members gathered in the airport’s arrival area. They could be heard screaming and crying as medics announced the names of 22 victims so far identified by their fingerprints, according to Reuters. Papers were circulated for families to write down their contact details. Two flight staff (one male and one female) were found alive and transported to hospital, the fire agency said. The rest of the 181 people aboard are presumed to have died, though this has not been officially confirmed yet.
Updated
Over 1,500 emergency personnel deployed for the recovery effort after plane crash
As we have mentioned in previous posts, fire authorities have reportedly said all but two of the 181 people aboard the Boeing 737-800 that veered off a runway and hit a wall at South Korea’s Muan international airport are presumed to have died.
More than 1,500 emergency personnel have been deployed for the huge recovery effort, including 490 fire employees and 455 police officers, according to the BBC.
Emergency rescue workers are trying to locate the remains of those who remain unaccounted for, while the bodies of those recovered so far are being housed in a temporary mortuary close to the crash site, the Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper is reporting.
Authorities are searching nearby areas for bodies possibly thrown from the plane, Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun has told journalists in a media briefing. “Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of (the plane) looks almost impossible to recognise,” he said.
Updated
As a reminder, no cause for the plane crash has been officially confirmed yet, but the fire service has suggested it could have been because of a collision with birds and poor weather conditions (see post at 07.00 for more details).
Transport ministry officials have said their early assessment of communication records show the airport control tower issued a bird strike warning to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave its pilot permission to land in a different area. The pilot sent out a distress signal shortly before the plane went past the runway and skidded across a buffer zone before hitting the wall, the officials said.
Senior transport ministry official Joo Jong-wan said workers have retrieved the flight data recorder from the plane’s black box and are still looking for the cockpit voice recording device. He said government investigators arrived at the site to investigate the cause of the crash and fire.
Updated
South Korea’s rival political parties have each launched separate initiatives to respond to the disaster, apparently shifting focus from their ongoing political animosity.
The opposition Democratic party leader, Lee Jae-myung, has departed for Muan where he plans to remain indefinitely to support rescue efforts, reports Hankyoreh, though he plans to stay at the party’s provincial office rather than visit the crash site while recovery operations continue. The party has established an emergency response committee led by Joo Cheol-hyeon, who chairs their South Jeolla provincial chapter.
Meanwhile, the ruling People Power party has formed a task force focused on investigating the crash and supporting victims’ families. The party’s acting leader, Kweon Seong-dong, announced he would visit Muan on Monday with task force members to “review accident response measures and prevention strategies” and meet with bereaved families.
Both party initiatives come amid unprecedented political turmoil in South Korea. The country’s president was suspended earlier this month after declaring martial law, and his acting replacement was then impeached by the opposition-controlled parliament last week, leaving the finance minister as the current acting president. The rapid-fire impeachments reflect the bitter political battle between the ruling and opposition parties that has paralysed much of the country’s governance.
Summary
A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok carrying 181 passengers and crew crashed shortly after 9am local time (00:00 GMT) while attempting a landing at Muan international airport in south-western South Korea on Sunday morning.
All but two of the people onboard Flight 7C2216 are presumed dead, according to local fire authorities. Two survivors, both reportedly crew members, were pulled from the tail section and are receiving treatment for “moderate to severe” injuries at a nearby hospital. Rescue workers have retrieved 120 bodies; a further 59 are missing.
Among the 175 passengers aboard the flight, 173 were Korean nationals and two were Thai nationals, officials have said.
The Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at about 9.03am local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy. The aircraft was seen skidding along the runway before hitting the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces at the front and tail sections and bursting into flames.
The cause of the crash is yet to be confirmed, though a bird strike and weather conditions have been pointed to as possibilities. Local broadcaster MBC aired footage that appears to show a bird strike incident as the plane was descending, and one of the two survivors reportedly told rescue workers that the aircraft had experienced a bird strike. Witnesses reported hearing loud “bang” noises before the aircraft struck the wall. Officials have also said weather conditions may have played a role. Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder, while the cockpit voice recorder is still being sought.
If the death toll is confirmed, it would be South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster and marks the first major casualty incident involving a low-cost carrier in the country’s history.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has arrived at the scene approximately 300km south-west of Seoul and has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for the rescue operations at the airport. ‘“No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy,” he said at the scene.
Jeju Air chief executive, Kim E-bae, has issued official apology saying: “Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident. At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies. Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident.”
A spokesperson for Boeing told the Guardian: “We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”
Kerati Kijmanawat, president of Airports of Thailand, the country’s main airport operator, said in a statement he expressed deepest condolences for this incident.
He said there were no reports of any abnormal conditions, either in relation to the aircraft and the runway, when the flight departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
At that time, relevant agencies made no reports of bird strikes or obstacles on the runway, he said.
"AOT places the highest importance on the safety of its aircraft and passengers by continuously inspecting the runway, lighting systems, bird repellent systems, and maintaining them, while complying with international safety standards,” said Kerati.
Heartbreaking scenes unfolded at Muan International Airport as more than 100 family members gathered in a meeting room to receive updates about their loved ones, reports Yonhap News. When Lee Jeong-hyeon, the chief of Muan fire station, told families that most passengers were presumed dead, the room erupted in wails of grief.
“Is there absolutely no chance of survival?” one family member asked, to which the fire chief could only bow his head and reply, “I’m so sorry, but that’s what it’s looking like”.
Some families expressed anger at what they saw as delayed responses from authorities and the airline. They had pleaded to be allowed near the crash site since this morning, but were denied access due to the restricted nature of the airport zone.
When the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, visited the airport, families reportedly surrounded him demanding real-time updates and pleading: “Please think of the families first”.
Choi could only bow repeatedly while saying, “I understand”.
Transport ministry officials have revealed a critical six-minute sequence before the crash, reports Yonhap News. At 08:57, air traffic controllers warned the approaching aircraft about bird strike risks. One minute later, at 08:58, the pilot declared a “mayday”. The plane attempted to land at 09:00 and crashed at 09:03.
One of the two surviving crew members has reportedly corroborated initial theories about the cause, telling rescue workers immediately after being pulled from the wreckage that the aircraft had experienced a bird strike, according to fire officials.
The transport ministry has confirmed that investigators have recovered the flight data recorder, while the cockpit voice recorder is still being sought.
The National Police Agency has deployed 169 forensic investigators to help identify victims. Separately, 579 officers have been deployed to assist with search operations and escort emergency vehicles at the crash site.
Updated
Witnesses who have spoken to Yonhap News have described seeing flames in the jet’s engine and hearing explosions before the crash.
Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who was staying near to the airport, said he saw a spark on the plane’s right wing before the incident. “I was telling my family there was a problem with the plane when I heard a loud explosion,” Yoo said.
One witness said he saw the plane descending and thought it was about to land when he noticed “a flash of light”. “Then there was a loud bang followed by smoke in the air, and then I heard a series of explosions,” he said.
Another witness, Kim Yong-cheol, 70, said the plane failed to land in the first attempt and had circled back for another attempt.
Kim said he heard the sound of “metallic scraping” twice about five minutes before the crash.
He saw the plane rising after failing to make a landing, before he heard a “loud explosion” and saw “black smoke billowing into the sky.”
Updated
120 bodies recovered from crash site, says fire agency
Fire authorities have recovered 120 bodies from the Jeju Air crash site at Muan International Airport, with 59 people still missing, according to South Korea’s national fire agency. Officials say the death toll so far includes 54 men, 57 women, and nine victims whose gender could not be immediately determined.
Rescue teams have divided the crash site into three zones as they continue to search for the remaining victims. However, fire officials told families at a briefing in the airport terminal that survival chances for the missing passengers are “virtually none” due to the severity of the crash and subsequent fire.
Only two people have reportedly survived the crash after being rescued from the aircraft’s tail section. They were rushed to a nearby hospital with “moderate to severe” injuries.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operating as flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, was attempting what officials described as a “belly landing” after experiencing landing gear problems. The plane struck airport perimeter structures and broke apart, with most of the fuselage being consumed by fire.
According to local media reports, many of the passengers were families returning from Christmas package holidays in Thailand. The flight was carrying 175 passengers (173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals), along with six crew members.
Ambassadors from around the world have offered messages of condolence.
Philip Goldberg, the US ambassador to South Korea, said on social media: “I was heartbroken to hear about the tragedy at Muan Airport this morning. My sincerest condolences go out to the victims and their loved ones, and my thoughts are with the people of Korea during this difficult time.”
German ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt also offered condolences, writing: “Very best wishes for the injured and all involved in the rescue efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with South Korea.”
British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks wrote: “Deepest condolences to the families of those who perished in this morning’s dreadful air accident at Muan.”
Updated
Acting president Choi Sang-mok has designated Muan as a special disaster zone, reports Yonhap News.
This declaration triggers a range of emergency relief measures and special administrative, fiscal, and financial support from the government to assist regions and residents affected by large-scale natural or man-made disasters.
South Korea’s national rail operator has announced a special train service to help families reach Muan, reports News1.
A KTX bullet train will depart Seoul Station at 3pm local time and arrive at Mokpo. The railway company says bereaved families can use these services free of charge and additional trains will be arranged if needed. Mokpo station is the closest rail terminal to Muan International Airport.
South Korea’s acting president arrives at Muan airport
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, arrived at Muan International Airport at 12:55 PM local time to oversee the response to the disaster.
Choi said at the crash site:
No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy
He promised full government support for bereaved families.
Choi, who became acting president just days ago amid South Korea’s ongoing political crisis, activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters earlier in the day.
His visit to the crash site marks the government’s highest-level response to what is becoming one of South Korea’s worst aviation disasters, and the worst to have occurred on South Korean soil.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800, operated by Jeju Air.
A spokesperson for Boeing told the Guardian:
We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.
Jeju Air chief executive, Kim E-bae, has issued official apology (unofficial translation):
First, we bow our heads in apology to everyone who has trusted Jeju Air. At approximately 9:03 AM on 29 December, flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan caught fire while landing at Muan International Airport.
Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident. At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies.
Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident. Jeju Air will do everything possible to promtly manage this accident and support the families of those aboard. We will also do our utmost to determine the cause of the accident in cooperation with the government.
Once again, we pray for those who lost their lives in this accident and offer our deepest apologies to their bereaved families.
Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra has expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased and injured on social media platform, x.
Shinawatra has asked the ministry of foreign affairs to investigate whether there were any Thai passengers on this plane and what the current situation is, according to the post.
Earlier reports from Yonhap news agency indicated two passengers onboard the Jeju Air flight were Thai nationals.
According to Newsis, the Jeju Air aircraft was carrying many holidaymakers returning from a five-day Christmas package tour to Bangkok. The Muan-Bangkok route has only been operating four times per week since 8 December, as part of a seasonal schedule set to run until 23 March next year.
Authorities are working to confirm the identities of victims by cross-referencing the passenger manifest with seating positions on the aircraft.
Fire officials have now shifted from rescue operations to recovery, saying the aircraft’s fuselage is damaged beyond recognition except for the tail section, reports News1.
Some victims were reportedly ejected from the aircraft during impact.
Jeju Air has updated the message on the landing page of its website:
Jeju Air deeply bows in apology to all those affected by the Muan Airport accident. Our first priority is to do everything possible to manage this incident. We sincerely apologise for causing concern.
179 passengers and crew presumed dead, with two rescued
Fire authorities say that among the 181 people aboard the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, all but two are presumed dead after the aircraft crashed during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday morning, according to Yonhap News.
Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage where more bodies remain inside the fuselage. Two survivors, one passenger and one crew member, were pulled from the tail section and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
The Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at around 9:03am local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy.
Witnesses reported hearing loud “bang” noises before the aircraft struck the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces and bursting into flames. Local broadcaster MBC aired footage that appears to show a bird strike incident as the plane was descending. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
If the death toll is confirmed, this would be South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster and marks the first major casualty incident involving a low-cost carrier in the country’s history, reports the JoongAng Ilbo.
Previous major accidents on Korean soil include the 1993 Asiana Airlines crash in Mokpo that killed 68 people, and a 2002 Air China crash near Gimhae Airport that killed 129 of 166 passengers.
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South Korea’s land, infrastructure and transport ministry has issued a statement on social media site, X, which said (unofficial translation):
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is dedicating all efforts to managing the Jeju Air flight 2216 incident.
At approximately 09:03 on Sunday, 29 December, Jeju Air Flight 2216 (Bangkok-Muan) was involved in an accident during landing at Muan International Airport.
The Ministry has activated its Central Accident Management Headquarters (09:30) and is concentrating all efforts on managing the aircraft accident at Muan Airport.
The aircraft was carrying 175 passengers (including 2 Thai nationals) and 6 crew members. The exact number of casualties is currently being determined.
Investigators from the Aviation Accident Investigation Committee arrived (10:10) and are currently investigating the cause. Safety operation directives have been issued to all airlines and airports.
The Ministry’s Central Accident Management Headquarters remains operational and plans to respond with full organisational capacity to minimise loss of life.
Transport Minister Park Sang-woo has urged all parties to do their utmost in rescue operations and accident management.
Jeju Air has switched its website to a minimalist, black background layout in response to the crash.
In its official notice, the airline confirmed flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan was carrying 175 passengers and 6 crew members when it collided with structures at the end of the runway.
The company says it has “activated company-wide emergency protocols” and established a dedicated team to support bereaved families.
The website provides emergency contact numbers and states: “Jeju Air will do everything possible regarding this accident. We deeply apologise for causing concern”.
A least 62 people have died after an airliner carrying 175 passengers and six crew veered off a runway and smashed into a wall at an airport in South Korea.
Footage of the incident showed the Boeing 737-800 skid along the runway on Sunday morning before striking what appeared to be a concrete barrier at high speed and bursting into flames as parts of the fuselage flew into the air.
The accident occurred at around 9am local time, shortly after the plane, Jeju Air flight 7C2216, landed at Muan international airport about 300km south-west of Seoul, at the end of a flight from Bangkok, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Read more on this story from our reporters Justin McCurry and Raphael Rashid:
Death toll rises to 62 according to authorities
Fire authorities have identified 62 deaths from the Muan airport crash, according to Yonhap news agency and News1, with officials warning the death toll could rise as bodies remain inside the aircraft’s fuselage.
Two survivors, one passenger and one crew member, have reportedly been rescued and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
The crash occurred when the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, carrying 181 passengers and crew, attempted an emergency landing at around 9:03 am local time after reporting problems with its landing gear. Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage.
Updated
47 believed dead, say South Korean fire authorities
Fire authorities have identified 47 deaths from the Muan airport crash as of 11:40am local time, according to Newsis and Yonhap news agency, with officials warning the death toll could rise as bodies remain inside the aircraft’s fuselage.
Two survivors, one passenger and one crew member, have reportedly been rescued and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
The crash occurred when the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, carrying 181 passengers and crew, attempted an emergency landing at around 9:03 am local time after reporting problems with its landing gear. Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage.
Updated
Further images from Muan airport show firefighters and rescue workers responding.
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The Muan-Bangkok route was part of the airport’s first international services in 17 years, launched just three weeks ago on 8 December.
The expansion was part of a broader revival that would see the regional airport operate routes to 18 international destinations across nine countries this winter season, according to Yonhap News.
According to Newsis, witnesses reported hearing loud “bang” sounds during the failed landing attempts, with the aircraft’s landing gear reportedly failing to deploy properly. The plane then veered off the runway and struck the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces at the front and tail sections and bursting into flames. Emergency services have set up a temporary morgue at the site.
Yonhap News reports that three people have been rescued so far, with the search underway for additional casualties, while News1 reports that among those rescued are one passenger and one crew member.
Local authorities say they are coordinating with major hospitals in Gwangju to handle potential casualties.
The crash presents the first major test for the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, who assumed office on Friday after South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach the previous acting president, Han Duck-soo.
Han had been serving as interim leader following the impeachment of then president Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month over his controversial martial law declaration. The short-lived declaration has roiled the country, with mass protests on Saturday calling for Yoon’s removal.
Among the 175 passengers aboard the flight from Bangkok, officials say 173 were Korean nationals and two were Thai nationals. There were six crew members.
The National Fire Agency sayst the initial fire was brought under control at 9.46am, 43 minutes after the first emergency call was received at 9.03am.
Summary
Dozens are feared dead after a plane skidded off the runway while attempting a landing without landing gear at Muan international airport in South Korea on Sunday morning
The exact casualty figures have not yet been tallied, though authorities are provisionally reporting that 28 people are believed to have died, according to news agency Newsis. Fire officials have warned that given the severe damage to the aircraft, the number of casualties could rise.
Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok to Muan was carrying 181 people – 175 passengers and six crew – when it came down, skidded along the runway and hit fencing and a wall around the perimeter before catching fire.
Rescues are underway, with two people brought out of the wreckage so far. Emergency services are continuing their search operation.
The Boeing 737-800 may have suffered a bird strike that caused the landing gear to fail, according news agency Yonhap. The flight had reportedly attempted one landing before being forced to “go-around” when the landing gear failed to lower normally.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for the rescue operations at Muan international airport in the country’s south-west and is heading to the crash site, about 300km from the capital, Seoul.
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Attempt made at 'belly landing' after landing gear failed, local media report
The pilot of Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok appeared to be attempting a belly landing after the plane’s landing gear failed to deploy properly, Yonhap is reporting.
During the emergency landing attempt, the plane was unable to reduce its speed sufficiently as it approached the end of the runway, according to officials at the scene. The aircraft then struck airport structures at the runway’s end, resulting in severe damage to the fuselage and triggering a fire.
The Jeju Air flight had reportedly attempted one landing before being forced to “go-around” when the landing gear failed to lower normally. A go-around is a standard aviation manoeuvre where pilots abort a landing attempt and circle around for another try. A bird strike is suspected to have caused the landing gear malfunction, though this remains under investigation.
The plane came down at Muan international airport, in south-western South Korea:
Some images are now coming in from the site at Muan international airport, where a Boeing 737 has crashed on landing.
The acting president, Choi Sang-mok, arrived at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters in Seoul at 9.50am and ordered all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised for rescue operations, reports Yonhap. Choi, who is also finance minister and deputy prime minister, emphasised the need to ensure the safety of firefighters during rescue operations.
After issuing the orders, Choi departed for the crash site at the airport in south-west of the country, approximately 300km from the capital, Seoul.
Local fire authorities say they have brought the initial fire under control, and rescue operations are focusing on passengers in the tail section of the aircraft. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene after the Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok crashed at 9.03am.
Fire officials warned that given the severe damage to the aircraft, the number of casualties could rise.
South Korean news agency Yonhap is reporting that a bird strike may have affected the plane’s landing gear.
Footage circulating online appears to show a Jeju Air plane attempting to land without its landing gear down. The footage has not yet been verified.
Rescue authorities are now evacuating passengers from the rear section of the jet, Yonhap said, citing the fire department.
A photo showed the tail section of the jet engulfed in flames on what appeared to be the side of the runway, with firefighters and emergency vehicles nearby.
The acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for rescue operations at Muan international airport.
28 feared dead, fire authorities reported as saying
South Korean news agency News1 reports that approximately 28 people are feared dead in the crash, according to fire authorities. Two people have been rescued, with emergency services continuing their search operations.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members when it struck a perimeter wall during landing, breaking apart and catching fire. Fire services have issued their highest level-3 emergency response.
Updated
Opening summary
Casualties are being reported after an aircraft carrying 175 passengers and six flight attendants veered off the runway and crashed into a fence in South Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday.
The agency said 23 casualties had been reported so far and that rescues were under way from Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok.
Large plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky in early unverified images emerging on social media.
Emergency services received the call at Muan international airport in South Jeolla province at around 9am.
We will bring you more news as it emerges.
