Plane Crash in South Korea Claims 179 Lives During Landing at Muan International Airport

A catastrophic aviation accident has claimed 179 lives at South Korea’s Muan International Airport. A passenger plane crashed into a safety barrier during landing, marking the deadliest air disaster in the country in nearly 30 years.

Jeju Air Flight C22167, en route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members. At 9 AM local time, the plane failed to land safely, veered off the runway, and collided with a protective barrier, bursting into flames.

South Korea’s Ministry of Transport confirmed 179 fatalities, with only two crew members rescued alive. Both survivors, pulled from the aircraft’s tail section, are in critical condition and receiving medical care.

Muan Fire Chief Lee Jung-hyun described the scene, “The aircraft is almost unrecognizable due to the extensive damage. Rescue teams worked tirelessly, and the fire was finally extinguished by 1 PM.”

Airport staff reported chaotic scenes as emergency teams battled flames and attempted to locate survivors. Rescue efforts were concentrated in the tail section, where the two crew members were found alive.

The crash is South Korea’s deadliest since the 1990s. Authorities are investigating the cause, focusing on potential mechanical failures or human error.