Tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in South Korea claims most lives

Tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in South Korea claims most lives! All 181 passengers and crew aboard Jeju Air Flight 2216, which tragically crashed while landing in South Korea on Sunday morning, are presumed dead except for two survivors.

Authorities confirmed that the two rescued individuals are a male crew member and a female crew member, both receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Health Ministry officials on Sunday evening.

Details of the Crash

Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737 aircraft, was en route from Bangkok when it attempted to land at Muan International Airport around 9 a.m. local time. Shortly after touchdown, the plane veered off the runway and collided with a wall, leading to the catastrophic crash.

Initial reports indicated that all 181 people on board—175 passengers and six crew members—were presumed dead. However, as rescue operations continued, two crew members were successfully evacuated with injuries that are not life-threatening.

Passenger and Crew Information

The flight manifest revealed that there were five children under the age of 10 on board, the youngest being three years old. The National Fire Agency reported that the official death toll rose to 176 by 8 p.m., with 83 women and 82 men confirmed deceased.

Eleven bodies remained unidentified at the time of the latest update. Efforts to identify the victims are ongoing, with 141 out of 179 individuals identified through fingerprint and DNA analysis. Unfortunately, 38 remain unidentified due to severe damage to some bodies, which has complicated the identification process, especially for minors who lack fingerprint records.

Investigation into the Cause

Investigators from the Korean Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport are diligently working to determine the cause of the crash. Preliminary information suggests that a warning of a possible bird strike was issued by the control tower shortly before the incident.

Approximately one minute after this warning, the pilot issued a mayday distress signal, after which the control tower granted permission for the aircraft to land.

The Air and Railway Investigation Committee successfully recovered the plane’s “black boxes,” including the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). While the CVR was intact, the FDR sustained partial damage.

Officials anticipate that decrypting the FDR data could take up to a month, but if the damage is too extensive, the data may need to be sent to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for decoding, potentially delaying the investigation by over six months.

Scene of the Crash

Videos captured at the crash site show that the plane’s landing gear was up during touchdown, suggesting a possible malfunction. Additionally, the aircraft appeared to land at a high speed, which may have contributed to the crash.

The aftermath of the crash was devastating, with flames and a thick column of dark smoke engulfing the area. By 1 p.m. local time, authorities confirmed that the plane had completely burned, and a temporary morgue was being established at the airport to handle the remains.

Official and International Responses

United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden expressed their condolences in a statement released Sunday afternoon. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life in this tragic accident,” Biden stated. “The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance to South Korea during this difficult time.”

Jeju Air, the South Korean low-cost carrier operating an all-Boeing fleet of 42 planes with nearly 3,000 staff members, issued a public apology on its website.

The airline expressed profound regret over the incident, stating, “We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident at Muan Airport. We will make every effort to resolve the situation and sincerely regret the distress caused.” Notably, Jeju Air’s website temporarily replaced its usual orange logo with an all-black version, signaling the gravity of the situation.

International Investigation Collaboration

The NTSB announced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that it is leading a team of U.S. investigators, including representatives from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to assist the Republic of Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) with the crash investigation.

The ARAIB has committed to releasing information about the investigation in accordance with international protocols.

A Boeing spokesperson confirmed that the company is in contact with Jeju Air and is prepared to offer support. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew,” the spokesperson said to ABC News.

Impact on Muan and Beyond

Muan, a city of approximately 90,000 residents located in southwest South Korea, has been profoundly affected by the crash. The local community is grappling with the sudden loss of so many lives, and the establishment of a temporary morgue underscores the severity of the tragedy.

As investigations continue, authorities are focused on understanding the exact sequence of events that led to the crash.

The potential bird strike and the malfunction of the landing gear are key areas of inquiry. The cooperation between South Korean and international agencies aims to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation, providing answers to the families affected and preventing future tragedies.

Conclusion

The crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 is a heartbreaking event that has shaken South Korea and the international community. With most passengers and crew presumed dead and only two survivors, the focus now shifts to the investigation and support for the victims’ families.

As authorities work tirelessly to uncover the causes, the global aviation community stands united in grief and solidarity, hoping for answers and measures to enhance flight safety in the future.

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