Boeing 737 crash in South Korea leaves 151 dead, more feared
In the Boeing 737-800 crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea, at least 151 people have died. There were a total of 181 passengers and crew members on board. Witnesses report that the crash site still smells of fuel and blood.
The tragedy occurred on Sunday, December 29. In a video published by local media, the plane is seen skidding off the runway without visible landing gear and then exploding. Other images show smoke and fire engulfing the wreckage.
The death toll continues to increase by the hour. Two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the burning plane and transported to the hospital.
Boeing 737-800 crash: preliminary causes
Investigators are considering a bird strike and weather conditions as possible causes of the accident, Lee reported. According to Yonhap, airport authorities indicated that a bird collision might have caused the landing gear failure.
The control tower issued a bird strike warning, and shortly after, the pilots declared "mayday." A transport ministry official added that it is uncertain whether the plane actually hit any birds. A minute after declaring "mayday," the Boeing made a fateful landing attempt.
Jeju Air’s president, Kim E-bae, apologized for the crash, bowing deeply during a press briefing. He assured that the cause of the accident is still unknown and that the plane had no prior signs of failure. He added that the airline would cooperate with investigators and that assistance for the victims' families would be their top priority.
Tragedy in South Korea: Heartbreaking accounts
Several hours after the crash, family members of the victims gathered at the airport's arrivals area. Some cried and hugged each other while Red Cross volunteers distributed blankets.
One family member approached the microphone, asking authorities for more information: "My older brother died, and I don't know what's going on," he declared. Another relative asked journalists not to film: "We are not monkeys in a zoo. We are the bereaved families," he said in an interview with Reuters.
Authorities set up a temporary morgue at the airport. Witnesses reported that the crash site was filled with the smell of jet fuel and blood. Workers in protective suits and masks searched the area, and soldiers checked nearby brush.
The News1 agency reported that one of the passengers sent a text message to a relative, informing them that a bird was stuck in the plane's wing. His last message read: "Should I say my last words?"
