Islamabad: South Korean authorities have confirmed at least 176 people were killed in Sunday’s passenger plane crash.
The country’s National Fire Agency said the plane caught fire after skidding off a runway and crashing at an airport in South Korea’s Muan city.
At least 176 people are dead after a plane crashed while landing at an airport in South Korea. Two survivors were pulled from the debris and taken to hospital
Reuters reported that a passenger and a crew member were rescued.
The Air plane was reportedly flying back from Bangkok in Thailand and the accident took place while it was landing.
Officials told the British news agency that rescue operations were still under way.
Video | Moment when #plane veers off #SouthKorean #runway, erupts into #fireball, #casualties mount | https://t.co/Pzs6gRTMoS pic.twitter.com/ZOKG3iD0uc
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) December 29, 2024
Emergency services were attempting to rescue people in the tail section of the aircraft, an airport official said.
181 people on board
BBC reported that the Boeing 737-800 flight – operated by airline Jeju Air – had 181 people on board including six flight staff and was arriving at Muan Airport from Bangkok, Thailand
Families of the victims congregated at the airport as officials continued to search the wreckage.
Footage online appears to show the plane coming off the runway and crashing into a wall, before bursting into flames.
Unknown cause
No cause has been confirmed – but the fire service says it believes a collision with birds and poor weather may be to blame.
Unverified footage uploaded to social media shows the aircraft skidding off the runway and crashing into a wall before part of it bursts into flames.
Other footage shows a large plume of black smoke rising into the sky.
Two rescued
Earlier, Reuters reported that a passenger and a crew member were rescued.
“One flight attendant and one passenger have been rescued so far,” South Korea’s fire agency said in a statement, adding that “32 fire trucks had been deployed to the crash site”.
