Over 60 dead so far in South Korean plane crash

A plane has driven off the runway in a South Korean airport, causing a fiery explosion and dozens of casualties.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF DECEMBER 29, 2024 02:50 Updated: DECEMBER 29, 2024 04:52

Firefighters carry out extinguishing operations on an aircraft which drove off runaway at Muan International Airport in Muan (photo credit: REUTERS)

Some 47 casualties have been reported so far following a Boeing 737-800 aircraft driving off the runway and crashing into a wall at Muan International Airport in South Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday.

A rescue mission has begun to extract the passengers and flight attendants.

There were a total of 181 people, including six crew members, aboard the plane that was returning from Bangkok, the Yonhap report said. 

The report also added that most of the passengers were Koreans, except for two Thai nationals.

Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the crash, South Korean officials said.

This screen grab from video footage captured near Muan International Airport shows black smoke billowing into the air from the airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, December 29, 2024. (credit: YONHAP VIA REUTERS)

According to Newsis, Acting President Choi Sang-mok convened an emergency meeting regarding the accident.

Acting President Sang-mok reportedly instructed to "make every effort to rescue personnel, and to pay special attention to prevent safety accidents involving firefighters during the rescue process." Local media reported that he gave these instructions to the Acting Minister of the Interior and Safety, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, the Commissioner General of the National Fire Agency, the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, and other relevant organizations

דרום קוריאה: לפחות 23 בני אדם נפצעו לאחר שמטוס ובו כ-180 נוסעים ואנשי צוות סטה ממסלול ההמראה והתנגש בקיר, בנמל תעופה במואן שבדרום המדינה@EranCicurel pic.twitter.com/7zdpKLTIJJ

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 29, 2024

The fate of most passengers remains unkown

Of the 175 passengers, only three survivors have been extracted so far, Reuters reported.

South Korea's transport ministry has announced that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

---

---

Shortly after the crash, Yonhap announced that all flights had been canceled in the airport where the crash took place.

This is a developing story.