Tragic Crash Landing in South Korea Leaves 47 Dead

South Korea Muan Airport

Overview of the Incident

In a devastating accident early Sunday morning, at least 47 individuals lost their lives when a Boeing 737-800, operated by Jeju Air, crash-landed at an airport in Muan County, South Korea. The flight, numbered 7C 2216, originated from Bangkok and was carrying 175 passengers along with six crew members. The incident occurred just after 9 a.m. local time (7 p.m. ET Saturday), with a reported landing gear malfunction as the preliminary cause, according to official sources.

Response and Investigation

Following the crash, emergency teams, including firefighters, were dispatched to the scene where they used water cannons to combat the intense flames engulfing the aircraft. The wreckage, which was described by a fire department official as "almost completely destroyed," also littered the runway and surrounding areas, highlighting the severity of the crash.

The South Korean government, under the acting president Choi Sang-mok, has pledged full support, mobilizing all available resources to aid in the response efforts. Meanwhile, the South Korea’s Incident Investigation Committee has initiated a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the disaster, with investigators arriving on site by 10:10 a.m. local time.