South Korean Plane Crash Claims 179 Lives Out of 181 Onboard

A passenger texted a family member shortly before the crash to say that a bird had gotten stuck in the aircraft's wing

ASIA - South Korean authorities report that 179 out of 181 passengers on Jeju Air's flight 7C2216 were killed when the aircraft overshot the runway during an attempted landing, crashing into a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport. The impact caused a devastating explosion that engulfed most of the plane.

Jeju Air jet

141 of the 179 people who were killed in the crash have now been identified, and 179 bodies have been transported to a temporary morgue, according to the country’s land ministry on Monday.

Video footage of the incident shows that the aircraft's landing gear failed to deploy during landing, causing the twin-engine Boeing 737-800 to skid on its belly along the runway and eventually veer off course.

Flight data on Jeju Air's flight 7C2216 from Flight Radar before crash

During a press briefing Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun said, "Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of (the plane) looks almost impossible to recognize”.

The two surviving passengers, who had been seated in the tail section of the aircraft, sustained medium to severe injuries, according to local health authorities.

Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Potential factors under consideration include impact from a bird strike, mechanical failure (such as landing gear failing to deploy), and pilot error.

An email statement from Boeing read, “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”.

Passenger Sent Final Message Before Crash: Bird Stuck in Aircraft's Wing