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No fewer than 167 people reportedly died after a Jeju Air aircraft carrying 181 passengers caught fire on the ground early Sunday morning in South Korea.
Reports obtained by Naija News revealed that the tragic event occurred in Muan, approximately 290 kilometres from Seoul, the nation’s capital.
As reported by BBC, the Transport Ministry has confirmed that the aircraft was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, returning from Bangkok, Thailand, and included two Thai nationals among the passengers.
Currently, around 167 individuals have been reported deceased, with authorities anticipating that this number may increase.
The aircraft reportedly skidded off the runway and collided with a concrete barrier, likely due to a failure to deploy its front landing gear.
Rescue teams continue to search for victims scattered throughout the airport as thick black smoke rises from the wreckage.
Lee Jeong-hyeon, the chief of the Muan Fire Station, stated that the plane was destroyed, with only the tail section remaining somewhat identifiable amid the debris.
Witnesses quoted by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported seeing sparks and hearing an explosion prior to the incident.
Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who was near the airport, mentioned to Yonhap that he observed a spark on the right wing just before the crash occurred.
Kim Yong-cheol, 70, noted that the plane initially failed to land and had to circle back for another attempt.
Yong-cheol told the media that he saw “black smoke billowing into the sky after hearing a loud explosion.”
“I saw the plane descending and thought it was about to land when I noticed a flash of light,” another witness named Cho added.
“Then there was a loud bang followed by smoke in the air, and then I heard a series of explosions.”
