A passenger plane overshot a runway, caught fire and crashed into a concrete fence in a terrible aviation accident on Sunday in South Korea that killed at least 120 people. The accident was at Muan International Airport, which is situated in the southern town of Muan, some 290 kilometers south of Seoul.
Malfunction of Landing Gear Brings Plane to Catastrophic Fire
The plane was a Jeju Air passenger jet carrying 181 passengers and crew when the terrible malfunction occurred. The plane's landing gear reportedly did not deploy as it tried to touch down, sending the aircraft skidding uncontrollably off the runway before crashing into a concrete wall.
According to local news, it was witnessed skidding along the airstrip, with its landing gear still up, until it hit violently against the concrete barrier. A loud explosion ensued, sending the plane up in a blaze of flames as thick black smoke billowed from the burning wreckage. While fire-fighters partially extinguished the fire, officials were still busy trying to rescue survivors from the blazing inferno.
Response to the Disaster
The NFA deployed 32 fire trucks and a number of helicopters after the crash to douse the fire and save the people who were trapped inside. A male and a female were pulled out of the debris. At least 120 were confirmed dead.
Rescue teams and emergency workers were still investigating the exact cause of the crash. Initial reports point to the failure of the plane's landing gear to deploy as the primary factor in the tragedy. The flight originated from Bangkok, Thailand, and had two Thai nationals among its passengers.
South Korea's Worst Aviation Disaster in Decades
This is one of the deadliest aviation disasters to take place in South Korea's history. The last big air disaster in the country was in 1997 when a Korean Airlines flight crashed into Guam, killing all 228 people on board. This latest incident is a shock to the country already reeling under a political turmoil after the then-president Yoon Suk Yeol controversially imposed martial law and the subsequent impeachment of Acting President Han Duck-soo.
Global Outpouring of Condolences
The world community has plunged into mourning since the disaster struck. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has sent her condolences to the families of the victims through a heartfelt message on social media. She instructed the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide support for those affected by the crash.
In response, all means were mobilized by South Korean authorities-from the office of President Yoon to the recovery of the disaster. A meeting, including discussion of details on the incident and measures for follow-ups, was scheduled to be held later Sunday.
Investigations and Future Preventive Measures
As the authorities continue their investigation into what happened, questions of aircraft safety and malfunctioning landing gear are cardinal. Aircraft accidents related to a failure in the landing gear are extremely rare but usually devastating; thus, this case will be followed in great detail by the entire aviation industry in order for better safety protocols to prevent future tragedies.
This is a sad reminder of the risks inherently linked with air travel and how safety in aircraft design and operation has to be ensured. South Korea is mourning the loss of so many lives, and the hope remains that improvements in aviation safety will help prevent such disasters in the future.
Conclusion
The Muan International Airport deadly plane crash has left South Korea in grief, among other countries worldwide. At least 120 confirmed dead, the tragedy brings to the fore the imperative for strict safety measures within the aviation industry. While investigations are still ongoing, the world is standing in solidarity with the victims' families and the emergency responders who have been working hard day and night to help the affected ones after this disaster.