At least 167 people have been confirmed dead after a passenger plane veered off the runway and crashed before bursting into flames in South Korea.
The accident which occurred on Sunday at Muan International Airport in South Korea involved a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, Thailand.
The Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 from Bangkok had 175 passengers and six crew at the time of the tragedy.
Officials stated that the accident which happened at 9:03 a.m. local time was caused by a landing gear malfunction.
There seems to have been some kind of malfunction with the landing gear and images which have been on the media here do appear to show the plane landing on its belly, skidding along the runway, followed then by a huge explosion.
According to the country’s National Fire Agency, and two people have been rescued – both crew members.
National Fire Agency confirmed that the fire that engulfed the 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet has been extinguished with rescue efforts underway.
Hopes fading for survivors in South Korea's tragic plane crash
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency stated that hopes are fading for survivors, citing agency officials well-briefed of the rescue operations.
According to Yonhap news agency, the crash was caused by “contact with birds, resulting in malfunctioning landing gear”.
Passenger's last text
South Korea’sNews1 further reported that a paseenger who was on the ill-fated flight texted a relative to say a bird was stuck in the wing of the plane shortly before tragedy struck
“Should I say my last words?” read the message.
Following the tragedy, South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok, has deployed all resources at the country’s disposal for the rescue mission.
He confirmed in a statement that all-out efforts for rescue operations at Muan Airport is underway.
All related agencies… must mobilise all available resources to save the personnel.
The accident saw Korea Airports Corporation cancel all flights to Muan International Airport with planes that were airbone diverted to land at nearby airports
Jeju Air which was established in 2005 is one of the country’s low-cost airlines has issued a statement on the crash noting that it would do everything in its power in response to this accident.