29th December 2024 – (Gwangju) A Jeju Air flight tragically crashed on the morning of 29 December 2024, shortly after arriving at Muan Airport in South Korea from Bangkok. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers, encountered a flock of birds during its descent, which led to an explosion in the right engine and ultimately resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway and crashing into a protective barrier.
Eyewitness Mr Jung, who was fishing nearby, recounted the distressing events. He observed the aircraft attempting to climb back after the bird strike but failing to achieve sufficient altitude. Instead, it executed a low turn, landing in the opposite direction of its intended approach. Jung noted that he saw the landing gear was deployed as the plane passed overhead.
A family member of one passenger received a message indicating that the aircraft had encountered difficulties. The passenger reportedly texted, “Should I say my last words?” shortly before losing contact. This alarming message was sent while the flight was still in the air, shortly before the crash.
The wreckage of the aircraft has been described as largely intact at the tail section, with reports indicating that 62 people have died, while three individuals have survived. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic accident, with concerns about bird strikes and their impact on aviation safety already in focus.
