Over 151 Passengers Have Lost Their Lives In Jeju Plane Crash At Muan Airport.

According to the South Korean National Fire Agency, a passenger plane crashed at an airport in Muan city, South Korea, after skidding off a runway and catching fire, killing over 151 people.

At 9.03 a.m. local time (00:03 gmt) on Sunday, the Jeju Air flight carrying 175 passengers and six crew members from Bangkok, Thailand, landed at Muan International Airport, which is roughly 289 kilometers (179 miles) southwest of Seoul.

According to the National Fire Agency, 151 people—71 women, 71 males, and nine others whose genders were not immediately apparent—were killed, and two people—both crew members—were rescued. According to the service, the fire that consumed the aircraft has been put out.

At least 151 people have been killed when a passenger plane caught fire after skidding off a runway and crashing at an airport in South Korea’s Muan city, the country’s National Fire Agency said.

The accident occurred on Sunday at 9.03am local time (00:03 GMT) as the Jeju Air flight, carrying 175 passengers and six crew from the Thai capital Bangkok, landed at Muan International Airport located about 289km (179 miles) southwest of the capital Seoul.

It was stated that two Thai people were on board the 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, with the remaining passengers believed to be South Koreans.

The relatives of the crash victims have received sincere condolences from Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

The plane was emitting dense clouds of black smoke in one image that was circulated by the local media. Another depicted firefighters and rescue vehicles close by as the jet’s tail part caught fire on what looked to be the runway’s side.

According to the Yonhap news agency, the plane’s attempt to land at the airport is thought to have been caused by “contact with birds, resulting in malfunctioning landing gear.”

A traveler aboard contacted a family member to inform them that a bird was trapped in the wing, according to the nation’s News1 agency. “Should I say my last words?” was the last message the person sent.

According to a representative of the aviation division of the South Korean Transport Ministry, an investigation is still underway and a bird hit is one of the unconfirmed theories for the tragedy.

Founded in 2005, Jeju Air, one of the biggest low-cost airlines in South Korea, apologized for the crash and promised to “do everything in our power in response to this accident.”

The incident marks Jeju Air’s first fatal accident; however, in August 2007, a Bombardier Q400 that the airline was operating with 74 passengers went off the runway at the southern Busan-Gimhae airport owing to strong winds, injuring twelve people.

–Deeprows News