Jeju Air’s crash: Death toll rises to 85 (update)
South Korea’s Fire Department reported that some survivors have been rescued, and efforts are ongoing.
KATHMANDU: At least 85 people, including 46 women and 39 men, were killed when a plane carrying 181 passengers crashed at an airport in South Korea.
The aircraft, operated by Jeju Air, skidded off the runway and collided with a wall while landing at Muan International Airport in the southwest. It was returning from Bangkok, Thailand.
The flight carried 175 passengers and six crew members.
South Korea’s Fire Department reported that some survivors have been rescued, and efforts are ongoing.
An airport official stated that rescue teams are focusing on evacuating people from the rear section of the plane.
Among the passengers, 173 were South Korean citizens, and two were Thai nationals, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The cause of the crash remains unclear, though local media speculate that bird strikes may have damaged the plane’s systems.
Images from the site show the aircraft’s underside severely scraped, with visible damage after hitting a wall.
All flights at Muan International Airport have been suspended. Located approximately 288 kilometers south of Seoul, the airport is now a hub of emergency activity.
This marks the first accident in Jeju Air’s history since its establishment in 2005.
The airline is one of South Korea’s largest low-cost carriers, known for its affordable flight services.
