A Boeing 737-800 crash in South Korea is believed to have claimed the lives of 179 individuals
Authorities have confirmed the recovery of 120 bodies from the aircraft carrying 181 passengers. Meanwhile, 59 individuals remain unaccounted for and are feared deceased.
In a tragic incident, a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, carrying 181 passengers, met with disaster as it attempted an emergency landing at South Korea’s Muan International Airport. Reports from Yonhap News on Sunday indicate that only two passengers are believed to have survived the crash.
Rescue operations continue as teams meticulously comb through the wreckage, with several bodies still trapped within the aircraft’s fuselage. A passenger and a crew member, rescued from the tail section, are receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital.
Fire officials have reported the recovery of 120 bodies in total, with 59 individuals still unaccounted for. The fatalities comprise 54 men, 57 women, and nine whose gender has yet to be determined.
Authorities have informed the families of those missing that the likelihood of survival is deemed extremely unlikely following a crash and subsequent fire, leaving the fate of the missing individuals undetermined.
A Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operating as a chartered flight, executed an emergency belly landing around 9:03 AM local time after experiencing a malfunction in its landing gear deployment, according to reports. The incident is currently under investigation.
Witnesses reported hearing explosive sounds shortly before the aircraft crashed into the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking apart and igniting in flames. Video footage aired by MBC indicates that a bird strike may have occurred as the plane was descending. Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the accident.
Acting President of South Korea, Choi Sang-mok, has officially designated Muan as a disaster zone, triggering the government’s highest-level emergency response following what is being described as the nation’s most severe aviation crisis.
Michael Whitaker, the Administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration, has expressed concerns regarding Boeing’s safety practices, stating that the company needs to implement considerable reforms and cultural shifts to improve safety standards and production quality.
Boeing is set to undergo substantial reforms to overhaul its quality system in light of ongoing systemic production issues, according to a statement by Whitaker. The company must enhance its safety protocols and implement a comprehensive shift in its safety culture to address the pervasive quality assurance and production challenges it faces.
In a recent session, legislators expressed apprehensions regarding Boeing’s inadequate safety track record. Chairman Sam Graves of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure remarked that while US aviation has historically been regarded as the epitome of safety standards, a series of recent incidents has raised doubts about that reputation.
In recent years, Boeing has encountered numerous safety violations and has been subject to criminal prosecutions.
In July, Boeing, the aerospace manufacturer, reached a plea agreement with the United States government in which it acknowledged its role in a conspiracy to defraud the country. Under the terms of this deal, Boeing is set to pay a financial penalty ranging from $243.6 million to $487 million. Additionally, the company will be placed under the supervision of an independent monitor for a period of three years.
