Jeju Air's deadliest crash at Muan airport claims 151 lives
A tragedy occurred when a Boeing 737-800 owned by Jeju Air crashed, resulting in the death of 151 people. The aircraft went down at Muan Airport in southwestern South Korea. The disaster of flight 2216 marks the most severe aviation accident involving South Korean airlines.
According to South Korea's Ministry of Transport, the Muan Airport crash is the most tragic aviation accident involving South Korean airlines in almost thirty years.
As reported by Reuters, there were 181 people on board the plane. The latest data indicates that the number of casualties has now surpassed 177.
What we know about Jeju Air
The aircraft belonged to the South Korean airline Jeju Air. It is the first and largest low-cost carrier in South Korea. It is also a member and founding member of the Value Alliance, which brings together low-cost airlines.
The British consulting firm Skytrax awarded Jeju Air three stars (on a five-point scale). In 2024, Jeju Air was recognised as number one in the low-cost airline category in the National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI). According to data from July 2024, Jeju Air transported approximately 4.33 million international passengers in the first half of the year.
The airline was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Jeju. They operate a fleet of 42 aircraft. According to airline information from 2024, their fleet consists solely of aircraft manufactured by the American company Boeing.
The main fleet comprises medium-range aircraft, Boeing 737-800. The plane that crashed at Muan Airport, according to the Korean Ministry of Transport, was manufactured in 2009.
Two aviation accidents recorded by Jeju Air
According to information from Reuters, since Jeju Air was founded, there have been two aviation accidents, including the tragic flight 2216 on 29 December 2024.
The previous accident occurred in 2007 during landing at Gimhae Airport in Busan, South Korea. No fatalities occurred then (there were 74 passengers and 5 crew members on board). Only six passengers sustained minor injuries.
Investigators are currently analysing possible causes of the 29 December 2024 crash, including bird involvement and weather conditions. The Yonhap News Agency cited airport information suggesting a bird strike could have caused a landing gear failure.
