At least 124 people have been confirmed dead after a devastating plane fire during a landing at an airport in South Korea.
The National Fire Agency reported the grim toll in the southern city of Muan, following the crash of a passenger jet carrying 181 people.
The tragedy occurred when the aircraft skidded off the runway just after landing, striking a barrier and catching fire.
As rescue operations continue, two people—both crew members—have been pulled from the wreckage, remaining conscious. The remaining 179 are presumed dead.
This incident marks South Korea’s deadliest plane crash, surpassing the 2002 Air China crash that claimed 129 lives.
According to the country’s emergency office, the crash was caused by a malfunction in the plane’s landing gear.
Emergency workers quickly responded, with 32 fire trucks and multiple helicopters deployed to control the blaze.
Chief of Muan’s fire station, Lee Jeong-hyeon, told the media that search efforts are ongoing for bodies scattered across the site, with the aircraft completely destroyed—only the tail assembly remains recognizable.
Investigators are considering several possible causes, including bird strikes that could have led to mechanical issues.
The plane involved was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, flying from Bangkok. Among the passengers were two Thai nationals.
The airline operating the flight, Jeju Air, expressed deep regret over the crash and pledged to manage the aftermath diligently.
The company’s president, Kim E-bae, bowed deeply during a televised press conference, apologizing to the victims’ families and taking full responsibility for the tragedy.
Mr. Kim emphasized that the plane had passed regular safety checks, and he would await the findings from government investigations into the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who assumed responsibility following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, was heading to the scene with orders to use all available resources.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended her condolences to the affected families via a post on X, instructing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to offer immediate assistance.
The last major air disaster in South Korea occurred in 1997, when a Korean Airlines flight crashed in Guam, killing 228 people.
The South Korean incident is among the worst landing mishaps in recent history, joining the 2007 crash in Brazil, which killed 187 people and 12 others on the ground.
