KATHMANDU, Dec 29: At least 85 people have died after a Jeju Air passenger plane skidded off the runway and crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, according to CNN.
The tragic accident occurred at 9:03 AM local time (00:03 GMT) on Sunday. The flight, identified as Jeju Air 7C2216, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members on its route from Bangkok, Thailand, to the southwestern South Korean city of Muan.
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South Korea’s National Fire Agency reported that the fire caused by the crash has been nearly extinguished, but rescue operations are still underway as emergency workers strive to recover survivors from the wreckage.
Eyewitness reports and media footage suggest the plane experienced a malfunction in its landing gear, leading to a belly landing. “Images show the aircraft skidding along the runway before a massive explosion occurred,” Al Jazeera correspondent Rob McBride, reported from Seoul.
The airport, located approximately 289 kilometers (179 miles) southwest of the capital, Seoul, has become the site of a significant rescue effort, with emergency teams racing against time to respond to the disaster.
