A devastating plane crash in southwestern South Korea on Sunday killed all but two of the 175 passengers and six crew members on board a Jeju Air flight. The victims were mostly South Korean nationals, with only two Thai citizens on board.
The pilot reported a bird strike before making an emergency landing at Muan International Airport, which is the deadliest aviation disaster in nearly 30 years for South Korea. The cause of the crash remains unclear, but investigators are working to determine what went wrong.
So far, 146 victims have been identified, while efforts are underway to name the remaining 33 bodies. Relatives of the victims gathered at the airport, with some huddled together, murmuring prayers and others demanding information from officials.
Two black boxes from the crash site have been recovered, but the flight recorder suffered external damage and needs to be analyzed in Seoul before it can provide more information. A team of US investigators, including Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, is assisting South Korean authorities with the investigation.
The government has declared a seven-day period of national mourning and ordered an investigation into the country’s entire airline system. The transport ministry will inspect all Boeing 737-800 planes in the country to check their maintenance records on major parts, including engines and landing gear.
Over 700 personnel from the police, military, and coast guard have been mobilized for response efforts, with mourners laying flowers and candles at a public memorial altar set up to honor the victims.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/30/asia/south-korea-plane-crash-victims-families-intl-hnk/index.html