South Korea Plane Crash: Victims Reported After Jeju Air Plane Runs Off Runway At Muan Airport – Live Updates | South Korea

Local media report: Attempted “belly landing” after landing gear failed

Raphael Rashid

The pilot of Jeju Air Flight 2216 from Bangkok appeared to attempt a belly landing after the plane’s landing gear failed to extend properly, Yonhap reports.

According to officials at the scene, during the emergency landing attempt, the aircraft was unable to reduce its speed sufficiently as it neared the end of the runway. The aircraft then struck airport structures at the end of the runway, causing severe damage to the fuselage and a fire.

The Jeju Air flight reportedly attempted to land before being forced to “go-around” because the landing gear failed to lower normally. A go-around is a standard flight maneuver in which pilots abort a landing attempt and circle around for another attempt. It is suspected that a bird strike caused the landing gear malfunction, but this is still under investigation.

Raphael Rashid

Acting President Choi Sang-mok arrived at the Central Disaster Management headquarters in Seoul at 9:50 a.m. and ordered all available equipment and personnel to be mobilized for rescue operations, Yonhap reports. Choi, who is also finance minister and deputy prime minister, stressed the need to ensure the safety of firefighters during rescue operations.

After giving the order, Choi headed to the crash site at the airport in the southwest of the country, about 300 km from the capital Seoul.

Raphael Rashid

Local fire authorities say they have brought the initial fire under control and rescue efforts are focused on the passengers in the tail section of the plane. Rescue workers were dispatched to the scene after Jeju Air Flight 2216 from Bangkok crashed at 9:03 a.m.

Firefighters warned that the number of victims could rise given the severe damage to the aircraft.

According to the fire department, 28 people were feared dead

Raphael Rashid

The South Korean news agency News1 reports that, according to the fire department, around 28 people are expected to have died in the crash. Two people were rescued and the emergency services continued their search operations.

The plane, a Boeing 737-800, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members when it crashed into a perimeter wall during landing, broke apart and caught fire. The fire brigades have issued their highest emergency level 3.

Injuries were reported after a plane carrying 175 passengers and six flight attendants veered off the runway and crashed into a fence in South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday.

The agency said 23 casualties had been reported so far and that rescue operations were underway from Jeju Air Flight 2216 from Bangkok.

Initial, unconfirmed images that appeared on social media showed large clouds of smoke rising into the sky.

Rescue workers received the call around 9 a.m. at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province.

We will bring you more news as it becomes available.