South Korea plane crash: What we know

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – An airliner burst into flames as it landed at an airport in South Korea on Sunday, killing 179 people in one of the deadliest air disasters in the country’s history. There were only two survivors, officials said.

Video showed the plane skidding across the runway, overrunning the runway and crashing into a barrier at the airport about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul on Sunday. Its front landing gear was apparently not deployed.

Here are some things to know about crashes:

What preceded the fatal fire?

The pilot issued an emergency signal shortly before the plane overshot the end of the runway, officials said.

Footage broadcast by South Korean TV channels showed the plane skidding – and apparently without its landing gear exposed. The jet overran the runway and hit a barrier, triggering a fiery explosion. Footage showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the plane, which was engulfed in flames.

The 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet was arriving from Bangkok when the crash happened at 9.03am on Sunday in the city of Muan.

Workers have retrieved flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the plane’s black box, which will be examined by government experts investigating the cause of the crash and fire, said senior transport ministry official Joo Jong-wan.

What do we know about casualties?

The jet operated by Jeju Air was carrying 181 passengers and crew. Of those, a total of 179 people died in the crash and subsequent fire; only two crew members survived, officials said.

Family members wailed as officials announced the names of some victims in a Muan airport lounge.

Kim E-bae, Jeju Air’s president, bowed deeply to other senior company officials as he apologized to the bereaved families and said he feels “full responsibility” for the incident. Boeing also expressed its condolences and said in a statement at X that they are ready to support the company in dealing with the crash.

The government declared Muan a special disaster zone.

What about reports of a bird strike?

It will take months to determine the cause. But there are some possible clues.

Lee Jeong-hyeon, head of the Muan Fire Station, said workers were investigating various possibilities of what caused the crash, including whether the plane was hit by birds. Transport Ministry officials said the airport’s control tower issued a bird strike warning to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave its pilot permission to land in another area.

The plane was destroyed with the tail assembly as the only recognizable part among the wreckage, the fire chief told a televised briefing.

What is the reaction from around the world?

The incident came as South Korea is embroiled in a political crisis sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment. Last Friday, South Korean lawmakers impeached acting President Han Duck-soo, prompting Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to take over.

Choi, who traveled to the crash site, urged officials to use all available resources to find the missing and identify the victims as soon as possible. The government designated a week-long national period of mourning until Saturday.

Yoon’s office said his chief secretary, Chung Jin-suk, led an emergency meeting of senior presidential staff to discuss the crash and reported the details to Choi. Yoon also expressed condolences to the victims.

World leaders expressed their sympathy as South Korea dealt with the tragedy.

Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed his deepest condolences to the families and ordered the country’s foreign ministry to provide immediate assistance. Pope Francis offered his condolences from St. Peter’s Square. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of many precious lives.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also offered his condolences.

——

Associated Press reporters Bobby Caina Calvan in New York, Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Giada Zampano in Rome and David Sharp in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.

Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung, Associated Press