29 December 2024
Officials say bird strike, weather being investigated as causes of crash
South Korean authorities are investigating whether bird strike and adverse weather conditions were the cause of the Jeju Air plane crash that killed at least 120 passengers on board the plane at Muan International Airport.
Fire officials said the Boeing 737-800 aircraft was “almost completely destroyed” in the crash, with only two crew members of the 181 people on board at the time of the crash surviving.
https://p.dw.com/p/4oehy
29 December 2024
What is the South Korean carrier Jeju Air?
Established in 2005, Jeju Air is South Korea’s largest low-cost airline.
Its hub is in Jeju city, which is the country’s second largest international airport after Seoul-Incheon. Jeju city is located on Jeju Island, an extremely popular destination for South Korean vacationers.
The airline has a 40 aircraft strong fleet, all of its aircraft are Boeing 737, a model used extensively by low-cost airlines around the world.
The Muan Airport crash was the first fatal accident in Jeju Air’s history.
https://p.dw.com/p/4oeh6
29 December 2024
Fire department says death toll has risen to 120
The death toll as a result of the Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea has risen to 120, South Korean fire officials said.
The accident is one of the deadliest disasters in the country’s aviation history.
https://p.dw.com/p/4oegw
29 December 2024
Thai PM expressed condolences to the families of the victims
Thailand’s Prime Minister Patongtaran Shinawatra expressed his deep condolences to the families of those affected by the Jeju Air plane crash through a post on social platform X.
Patongtarn said he had ordered the Foreign Ministry to provide immediate assistance, as well as investigate whether any Thai citizens were on board the plane. The plane started its journey in the Thai capital Bangkok.
https://p.dw.com/p/4oego
29 December 2024
Airline CEO says plane has never had any prior accidents
Jeju Jet CEO Kim E-bae has publicly apologized for the airline’s plane crash that killed at least 96 people.
In a brief media briefing, Kim said supporting the bereaved was the airline’s top priority, adding that the plane that crashed had no previous record of accidents.
https://p.dw.com/p/4oegd
29 December 2024
The fire department says the passenger has a “very slim chance” of survival.
According to a South Korean fire department official, there was little chance that the remaining passengers of the crashed Jeju Air flight could survive.
“Passengers were ejected from the aircraft after hitting the barrier, with little chance of survival,” the local fire department said in a statement.
At least 96 of the plane’s 181 passengers have already been confirmed dead, while two people – both crew members – have so far been evacuated alive.
fmt/wd (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)
https://p.dw.com/p/4oegn