A devastating aviation disaster near South Jeolla's Muan Airport has left South Korea reeling. Authorities now estimate that only two out of the 181 people onboard—a flight arriving from Bangkok—have survived.

The crash occurred at approximately 9:07 AM on December 29. Initial reports indicated 28 fatalities, but as rescue efforts continue, the confirmed death toll has climbed to 64, with officials warning that the number is expected to rise further.

Details of the Incident

The ill-fated flight, carrying 175 passengers and 6 crew members, reportedly skidded off the runway during its landing approach. The plane, predominantly occupied by Korean nationals, also had two Thai citizens onboard. Emergency responders have been working around the clock, but the destruction of the fuselage has made it increasingly challenging to identify victims.

“We are carefully cross-referencing the passenger manifest and seating chart, but the extensive damage to the fuselage complicates identification,” stated a representative from the South Jeolla Fire Department.

A survivor of the deadly crash is awake and speaking with doctors, according to Yonhap News Agency. The 33-year-old flight attendant is one of two passengers who reportedly survived the Jeju Air crash that killed nearly all 181 people on board on Sunday.

The director of the Seoul hospital where the survivor is being treated told reporters that the patient is able to communicate and is not displaying memory loss or other cognitive symptoms. The other survivor, also a flight attendant, is reportedly in stable condition at a separate hospital.

Cause Under Investigation

The exact cause of the crash remains unclear, though preliminary investigations suggest that adverse weather conditions may have been a significant factor. Officials are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.

Aviation experts question the theory that a bird strike caused the Jeju Air crash in South Korea that killed almost all of the 181 passengers on board, Reuters reports:

Uncertainty surrounds the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil, aviation experts said on Sunday, questioning how much impact a potential bird strike cited by authorities could have had in bringing down the Jeju Air flight.

The apparent absence of landing gear, the timing of the twin-engine Boeing 737-800’s belly landing at Muan International Airport and the reports of a possible bird strike all raised questions that could not yet be answered.

The single-aisle aircraft was seen in video broadcast on local media skidding down the runway with no landing gear deployed before hitting a wall in an explosion of flame and debris.

“At this point there are a lot more questions than we have answers. Why was the plane going so fast? Why were the flaps not open? Why was the landing gear not down?” said Gregory Alegi, an aviation expert and former teacher at Italy’s air force academy.

South Korean officials are investigating the crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, including the impact of a potential bird strike and the weather. 179 of 181 people on board died.

Deputy Transport Minister Joo Jong-wan said the runway’s 2,800-metre length was not a contributing factor, and that walls at the ends were built to industry standards.

A spokesperson for Jeju Air was not immediately available for comment. Jeju Air declined to comment on the cause during news conferences, saying an investigation is under way.

Christian Beckert, a flight safety expert and Lufthansa pilot, said the video footage suggested that aside from the reversers, most of the plane’s braking systems were not activated, creating a “big problem” and a fast landing.

Beckert said a bird strike was unlikely to have damaged the landing gear while it was still up, and that if it had happened when it was down, it would have been hard to raise again.

“It’s really, really very rare and very unusual not to lower the gear, because there are independent systems where we can lower the gear with an alternate system,” he said.

The probe should paint a clearer picture, he added.

A Nation in Mourning

This crash marks one of the deadliest aviation accidents in South Korea’s recent history, leaving the nation in shock and mourning. As families anxiously await news of their loved ones, the entire country grieves together.

“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families during this tragic time,” shared a spokesperson for the aviation authority.

Further updates on this heartbreaking disaster will follow as more information becomes available.