In a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 179 people, two crew members from the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 miraculously survived after the plane skidded off the runway, crashed into a wall, and erupted in flames at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
The crash, which occurred on Sunday, has shaken the nation, marking its deadliest aviation disaster in decades. Among the 181 people onboard, the survivors, a male and a female crew member, are now recovering in separate hospitals in Seoul. One survivor, a male, sustained fractures to his ribs, shoulder blade, and upper spine, but he told doctors he “woke up to find (himself) rescued.” The other survivor, a 25-year-old flight attendant, was also recovering, though not in intensive care.
The Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 had departed from Bangkok and was attempting to land at Muan International Airport when an initial failed landing attempt and a bird strike warning caused complications. After issuing a distress signal, the plane came down with its front landing gear closed, overshot the runway, and slammed into a concrete fence, leading to a fiery explosion. Preliminary observations suggest the plane may have suffered engine trouble, but the malfunctioning landing gear was likely the primary cause of the crash.
The crash, which has left the country in mourning, has prompted the South Korean government to vow a thorough investigation. The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), along with US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials and Boeing representatives, are all involved in determining the cause of the disaster. As part of the investigation, authorities have recovered two black boxes from the wreckage and are analyzing them for further clues.
Authorities have also confirmed the identification of 146 bodies, with efforts ongoing to gather DNA and fingerprint samples from the remaining victims. Meanwhile, families of the victims have begun receiving the bodies of their loved ones for burial.
The investigation continues, as South Korea’s transportation ministry and other agencies work to uncover what led to this devastating incident.
