(3rd LD) 62 dead, 2 rescued in passenger plane crash in S. Korea's Muan

▲ Flames rise from the wreckage of the Jeju Air passenger plane that crashed at the Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, about 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Dec. 29, 2024, in this photo provided by a Yonhap reader. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by a Yonhap reader, shows the plane crash site at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, on Dec. 29, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ Firefighting authorities carry out rescue operations at the plane crash site at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, in this photo provided by a Yonhap reader on Dec. 29, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ A passenger rescued from the plane crash at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, is transported to a hospital in Mokpo, a city in the same province, on Dec. 29, 2024. (Yonhap)

(3rd LD) plane-crash

(3rd LD) 62 dead, 2 rescued in passenger plane crash in S. Korea's Muan

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; CORRECTS number of rescued people as revised by authorities; ADDS details, photos)

By Kim Seung-yeon

MUAN, South Korea, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- A passenger jet carrying 181 people erupted in flames after going off the runway at an airport in South Korea's southwestern county of Muan on Sunday, leaving at least 62 people dead, with the death toll expected to rise sharply, authorities said.

The accident happened at 9:07 a.m., when the Jeju Air flight veered off the runway while landing and collided with a fence wall at the Muan International Airport in the Muan county, South Jeolla Province, about 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul.

Authorities confirmed 62 people were killed, with the casualties expected to rise sharply. Two crew members were rescued.

A total of 181, including six crew members, were aboard the plane that was returning from Bangkok.

Most of the passengers were Koreans, except for two Thai nationals.

Videos aired by local TV stations show the plane attempting to land without its landing gear deployed. The plane skidded along the ground, crashing into a concrete wall before exploding and being engulfed in flames.

The plane was almost completely destroyed by the explosion.

Authorities have extinguished the fire, and search and rescue operations were under way at the crash site.

Some 80 firefighters have been sent to the crash site.

Officials suspect the landing gear failure, possibly due to a bird strike, may have caused the accident. They began an on-site investigation to determine the exact cause.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok instructed officials to make all-out efforts for the rescue operations. Choi was on his way to the accident site, his officials said.

The presidential office said it will convene an emergency meeting of senior officials at 11:30 a.m. to discuss government responses to the plane crash. The meeting will be presided over by Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk.

Acting National Police Agency Commissioner-General Lee Ho-young also ordered officials to mobilize all available resources and work with firefighting and other related agencies to help with the rescue efforts.

(END)

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