Muan, South Korea — Only two flight attendants were rescued from the wreckage of the Boeing 737-800, which was flying from Thailand to South Korea when it crashed-landed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, leaving 179 people dead in a tragic plane crash involving a Jeju Air flight.
Authorities believe a bird strike might have caused the crash. The impact destroyed the plane and threw passengers from their seats. Video footage showed the aircraft landing on its belly, skidding off the runway, hitting a wall, and then bursting into flames.
Both black boxes, which record flight data and cockpit conversations, have been recovered. A US investigation team, including experts from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), is assisting South Korean officials.
One of the survivors, a 33-year-old flight attendant, is awake and communicating in the hospital. The other survivor, a 25-year-old woman, suffered injuries to her head and ankle.
At the airport, families of the victims gathered in tears, waiting for updates. Officials read the names of 65 identified victims, prompting emotional reactions from the crowd.
Rescue workers spent hours removing the burned remains of the plane. Debris, including seats and luggage, was scattered around the crash site.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, declared a seven-day national mourning period. Memorial altars will be set up across the country to honor the victims. Jeju Air apologized publicly, and its top officials expressed deep sorrow during a press conference.
This is the first deadly accident for Jeju Air since it began operations in 2005. Experts note that bird strikes are a known risk to aviation, often causing engine failures or other serious issues.
