Tragedy struck at Muan International Airport in South Korea when Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 veered off the runway, crashed into a concrete wall and burst into flames. The Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crash claimed the lives of 179 of the 181 people on board. Rescuers pulled two surviving crew members from the tail section.
Public Condolences
King Charles and Queen Camilla offered their deepest condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones.
My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the horrific air accident at Muan, which resulted in such grievous loss of life.
As the people of the Republic of Korea mourn this disaster, the families and loved ones of all the victims are in our prayers.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his sympathies, stating:
I send my deepest condolences to the victims and families of those who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash in Muan.
I pay tribute to the work of the emergency responders and my thoughts are with the people of the Republic of Korea and Thailand at this terrible time.
Investigation Underway
South Korean authorities are leading an investigation into reports of a bird strike, which may have caused the landing gear to fail. Just before the crash, a passenger texted a relative saying a bird was stuck in the wing and then sent the terrifying message: “Should I say my last words?”
The control tower issued a bird strike warning just before the pilots called mayday. But aviation experts are not convinced, pointing out that while bird strikes are common, they rarely cause an aircraft to crash.
Muan’s fire chief Lee Jung-hyun said the wreckage was “unrecognisable” with only the tail section intact. Rescue has turned to recovery and officials set up a temporary morgue near the crash site.
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the tragedy and pledged to do everything to support the families of the victims. The airline said that the 14-year-old aircraft had no history of accidents or technical problems.
South Korea’s Worst Aviation Disaster in Decades
This is South Korea’s worst aviation disaster since 1997. There were two Thai nationals on board, the remaining passengers were South Koreans. Acting President Choi Sang-mok promised the government will do everything to help with the aftermath.
Muan International Airport is one of the smaller airports in South Korea and has seen a surge in passengers in recent years, so questions are being asked about the safety measures. Jeju Air is South Korea’s largest low cost carrier and this is its first fatal accident.
Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected. We invite you to share your reflections in the comments.
