Live Updates: South Korea plane crash leaves dozens dead, jet carrying 181 people

On By Littum

Firefighters and rescue team members work on the runway at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Korea, Sunday.

At least 28 people have died in a plane crash in southwestern South Korea, a local fire department official told CNN.

The South Jeolla Provincial Fire Department headquarters said the number is expected to grow as recovery operations continue.

The Jeju Air jet was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members when it crashed on landing at the airport in Muan county just after 10 p.m. 9 local time Sunday (7 p.m. ET Saturday).

Emergency personnel said they had rescued two people from the plane, according to the fire department.

Rescue workers are focusing on reaching people inside the tail section of the plane.

A fire service official who spoke to CNN said the plane had been “almost completely destroyed” by fire.

Pictures of the crash published by the Yonhap news agency showed only the tail section of the plane intact, surrounded by flames.

According to the fire service, the accident was caused by a malfunction in the landing gear.