On December 29, 2024, tragedy struck at Muan International Airport in South Korea when a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people from Bangkok crashed during landing. The devastating accident claimed the lives of 179 passengers, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in South Korea’s history. Only two survivors, both part of the flight crew, were pulled from the wreckage alive.
The Boeing 737-800 veered off the runway, collided with a barrier, and burst into flames. Investigators believe the crash was caused by a bird strike that led to a malfunction in the landing gear.A bird strike is a collision between a plane in flight and a bird. They are very common, in the UK, more than 1,400 bird strikes were reported in 2022, only about 100 of which affected the plane, according to data from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Footage from the crash scene shows the plane coming off the runway, crashing into a wall, and erupting into flames. This catastrophic event has sent shockwaves through the aviation community and the nation.
South Korea’s acting President, Choi Sung-mok, has ordered an exhaustive investigation into the tragedy and pledged full support for the rescue and recovery efforts.As the nation mourns this dark moment in its aviation history, authorities are committed to uncovering the causes and ensuring such a disaster is never repeated.