By Nathaniel irobi
A passenger aircraft operated by Jeju Air, carrying 181 individuals, tragically crashed while attempting to land at a southwestern South Korean airport on Sunday.
Authorities have reported that the majority of those onboard are believed to have perished, though two survivors have been rescued as search and recovery operations persist.
The incident occurred as the plane, arriving from Bangkok, was landing at Muan International Airport when it veered off the runway.
Local fire department officials confirmed that the flight was in its landing phase at the time of the crash. Eyewitness footage captures the aircraft, identified by its distinctive white and orange colors, skidding along the runway on its belly before veering off, colliding with a barrier, and erupting into a massive fireball.
The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation. Officials are exploring various factors that may have contributed to the crash, including the potential for a bird strike that could have led to a malfunction in the landing gear, according to Ju Jong-wan, a director of aviation policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
