Boeing 737 tragedy in South Korea claims 151 lives
In the Boeing 737-800 crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea, at least 151 people lost their lives. There were a total of 181 passengers and crew members on board. Witnesses report that the crash site still smells of fuel and blood.
The tragedy occurred on Sunday, 29 December. In a video published by local media, the plane is seen skidding off the runway without visible landing gear and then exploding. Other images show smoke and fire engulfing the wreckage.
The death toll continues to increase by the hour. Two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the burning plane and taken to the hospital.
Boeing 737-800 crash: preliminary causes
Investigators are considering a bird strike and weather conditions as possible causes of the accident, Lee reported. According to Yonhap, airport authorities indicated that a bird collision might have caused the landing gear failure.
The control tower issued a bird strike warning, and shortly after, the pilots declared "mayday." A transport ministry official added that it is uncertain whether the plane actually hit any birds. A minute after declaring "mayday," the Boeing made a tragic landing attempt.
Jeju Air’s president, Kim E-bae, apologised for the crash, bowing deeply during a press briefing. He assured that the cause of the accident is still unknown, and the plane had shown no prior signs of failure. He added that the airline would cooperate with investigators, and providing assistance for the victims' families would become their top priority.
Tragedy in South Korea: Heartbreaking accounts
Several hours after the crash, family members of the victims gathered at the airport's arrivals area. Some cried and hugged each other while Red Cross volunteers distributed blankets.
One family member approached the microphone, asking authorities for more information: "My older brother died, and I don't know what's going on," he said. Another relative asked journalists not to film: "We are not monkeys in a zoo. We are the bereaved families," he stated in an interview with Reuters.
Authorities set up a temporary morgue at the airport. Witnesses reported that the crash site was filled with the smell of jet fuel and blood. Workers in protective suits and masks searched the area, and soldiers checked nearby brush.
The News1 agency reported that one of the passengers sent a text message to a relative, informing them that a bird was stuck in the plane's wing. His last message read: "Should I say my last words?"
