Plane C.R.A.S.H in South Korea reveals chilling secrets about Jeju Airlines flight that shocked the World

Plane crash in South Korea suspected short runway caused plane to not have enough space to land

A serious air accident in South Korea occurred on December 29 when a Boeing 737-800 of the low-cost airline **Jeju Air** crashed at Muan International Airport, about 288 km from the capital Seoul. The plane was carrying 181 people, including 175 passengers and 6 crew members. The incident killed 179 people, with only two lucky survivors, a male flight attendant and a female passenger in her 20s, both seriously injured. This is considered the worst domestic civil aviation disaster in South Korea’s history.

### **Incident development**
– The plane departed from Bangkok, Thailand and had a problem with the landing gear while preparing to land at Muan Airport. After the first failed landing attempt, the plane continued to circle and decided to land on its belly.

– According to witnesses, the plane made a loud bang when it landed, could not slow down, slid off the runway, crashed into a fence and caught fire fiercely.

– Korean media reported that video of the scene showed the plane landing on its belly, sliding a long way before exploding. An engine was said to have been smoking before the explosion occurred.

**Initial cause**
Korean authorities are focusing on the investigation, with initial hypotheses such as:
1. **Bird strike:** Some reports said that the plane’s landing gear was damaged due to a bird strike when it landed.
2. **Short runway:** Muan Airport has a 2,800m runway, significantly shorter than other major airports such as Incheon (3,750m) and Gimpo (3,600m). Some suspect that the short runway contributed to the difficulty of landing, especially in emergency conditions.

3. **Bad weather:** Some reports also suggest that weather conditions at the time may have affected the landing.

### **Relevant parties’ actions**
– **Jeju Air:** The airline’s CEO has apologized to the victims’ families and pledged to cooperate with the investigation. The airline said there was no evidence that the plane had technical problems before the accident.

– **Boeing:** The aircraft manufacturer has expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to provide technical assistance in the investigation. The Boeing 737-800, although considered a safe aircraft, has been involved in a number of serious accidents in the past.

– **South Korean government:** Acting President Choi Sang-mok declared Muan Airport a special disaster zone and requested the mobilization of all resources to support recovery efforts. He also stressed the need to thoroughly investigate the cause and take preventive measures to prevent similar accidents.

### **Casualties and survival status**
– The two survivors were a male flight attendant and a female passenger. Both were rescued from the rear of the plane. The male flight attendant suffered minor injuries, while the female passenger suffered shock and temporary memory loss.

– The death toll included 179 people, of whom 173 were South Korean citizens and 2 were Thai citizens. Most of the passengers were returning from a Christmas trip to Thailand.

### **Background and related incidents**
– The Boeing 737-800, the model involved in the crash, is one of the most popular versions of the Boeing 737 series. However, the model has been involved in a number of major accidents, including:
– 2020: An Air India Express plane overshot the runway while landing in India, killing 21 people.
– 2022: A China Eastern Airlines plane crashed into a mountain in China, killing all 132 passengers.
– The runway at Muan airport was once considered long enough to accommodate aircraft of similar size. However, the government has approved funding to upgrade the runway to 3,160m next year.

### **International response**
The crash has attracted great international attention, especially from aviation authorities. Many believe that stricter safety measures are needed to minimize risks when operating at airports with special conditions such as Muan.

The Korean investigation agency is expected to release preliminary results in the near future to clarify the cause and responsibility for this accident.