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Watch: Moment when plane skidded off runway, burst into flames at South Korea airport

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed during a 'belly landing' at Mua... Read More
Dramatic visuals surfaced on Sunday morning, capturing the crash of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Jeju Air at Muan International Airport. The incident claimed the lives of at least 120 people, according to Yonhap news agency.

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In the footage documenting the crash, the plane is seen skidding uncontrollably along the runway before erupting into a massive fireball. Thick black smoke emerged from the engines during its attempted landing, only for the aircraft to be engulfed in flames moments later.

The aircraft’s attempted ‘belly landing’—a last resort maneuver used when landing gear fails—is believed to have contributed to the crash. Initial reports suggest that the landing gear malfunctioned following suspected contact with birds.


The incident occurred at 9:07 am local time, when the flight from Bangkok to Muan veered off the runway and collided with a fence at the airport, located approximately 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul. Onboard were 175 passengers and six crew members, most of them South Korean nationals, along with two Thai citizens.

Firefighters battled plane fire at Muan Airport

Firefighters worked diligently to extinguish flames engulfing a Jeju Air plane that veered off the runway at Muan International Airport. The aircraft, carrying 181 people, had suffered landing gear malfunction and burst into flames upon collision with a fence, killing all but 2 passengers. (Image source: AP)

Rescue and firefighting teams assembled on the runway of Muan International Airport to manage the aftermath of a catastrophic plane crash. Their priority was controlling the fire and evacuating passengers amidst thick black smoke from the wreckage. (Image source: AP)

Fire engines were deployed to combat the intense flames after the crash. Emergency responders worked tirelessly to prevent the further spread of the fire and ensure rescue operations proceeded safely. (Image source: AP)

The crash occurred when a plane returning from Bangkok veered off the runway, striking a fence and igniting. Officials attributed the disaster to possible bird strikes that caused landing gear failure, leaving the plane partially engulfed in flames. (Image source: AP)

The incident unfolded during South Korea’s political turmoil, with acting President Choi Sang-mok directing agencies to mobilise all available resources for the rescue. Emergency workers faced mounting challenges as they worked under intense pressure. (Image source: AP)

The aftermath of the crash revealed a chaotic scene with emergency vehicles and personnel working amidst the burning wreckage. Footage showed thick smoke and flames rising as responders struggled to locate and evacuate survivors. (Image source: AP)

A survivor was transported to a hospital in Mokpo following the crash at Muan International Airport. Emergency crews successfully rescued a flight attendant and a passenger while continuing efforts to locate others in the damaged aircraft. (Image source: AP)


Jeju Air, founded in 2005, is one of South Korea’s leading low-cost carriers with a spotless safety track record. Its only other notable accident occurred in 2007 when a Bombardier Q400 veered off the runway due to strong winds at Busan-Gimhae Airport, resulting in a dozen injuries but no fatalities.
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The tragedy comes days after another aviation disaster in Kazakhstan, where an Azerbaijan Airlines flight burst into flames, claiming 38 lives. Preliminary investigations suggest the possibility of “external interference" with Russia President Putin apologising to his Azerbaijan counterpart for crash without giving any further details.

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