Eyewitnesses to a fatal plane crash in South Korea On Sunday, they said they noticed flames in the plane's engine and heard explosions, according to a report.
A Jeju Airlines flight The plane skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport in the town of Muan, about 190 miles south of Seoul, and crashed into a concrete fence, killing at least 176 people, the Associated Press reported, citing the country's National Fire Agency (NFA).
Yonhap News Agency reported that authorities were investigating a possible malfunction of the landing gear caused by a bird colliding with it, which may have caused the accident.
Videos show the plane trying to land without using its landing gear.
Plane veers off runway in South Korea and crashes, killing at least 176 people: reports
Firefighters carry out extinguishing operations on a runaway plane at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, December 29, 2024. (Yonhap via Reuters)
The flight was carrying 181 people when the collision occurred at approximately 9:03 a.m. local time. Emergency workers pulled two crew members to safety, and health officials say they are conscious and not in a life-threatening condition, while three people remain missing.
The South Korean Ministry of Transport said that the plane was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 and was returning from Bangkok, Thailand.
“We are in contact with Jeju Airlines regarding Flight 2216 and stand ready to support them,” Boeing said in a statement. He added: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”
One witness, Yoo Jae-young, 41, who was staying in a rented house near the airport, said he saw a spark on the plane's right wing before the accident, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“I was telling my family that there was a problem with the plane when I heard a loud explosion,” Yu said.
Firefighters carry out extinguishing operations on a runaway plane at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, December 29, 2024. (Yonhap via Reuters)
Another witness, identified only by his last name, Chu, told the outlet that he was walking 4.5 kilometers, or about 2.8 miles, from the airport when the plane struck the concrete wall at the end of the runway.
“I saw the plane landing and thought it was about to land when I noticed a flash of light,” Zhou said. He added: “Then there was a loud bang, followed by smoke in the air, and then I heard a series of explosions.”
Kim Yong-Cheol (70 years old) said that the plane was unable to land on the first attempt and had to return to try again before the accident occurred.
Kim said he heard a “metal scraping” sound twice about five minutes before the accident. He also said he looked up at the sky and noticed the plane ascending after failing to land before he heard a “loud explosion” and noticed “black smoke rising into the sky.”
This screenshot from video footage taken near Muan International Airport shows black smoke billowing into the air from the airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on December 29, 2024. (Yonhap via Reuters)
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A 50-year-old witness, surnamed Jung, was hunting nearby when he noticed a flock of birds collide with the plane, starting a fire in the right engine.
He added: “While the plane was landing on the runway, it collided with a flock of birds that was approaching from the opposite direction.” “I heard two or three explosions as if birds had been pulled into the engine before I saw flames coming from the right engine.”
Kirati Kejmanawat, director of Thailand's airports, said in a statement that the plane took off from Thailand's airport Suvarnabhumi Airport With no reports of abnormal conditions on the plane or on the runway.
Jeju Airlines said in a statement that it expresses its “deep apologies” for the incident and that it will do its “utmost to manage the effects of the incident.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
