Tengrinews.kz - All 179 victims of the plane crash that occurred on the morning of December 29 in the South Korean city of Muan have been found, according to local news agency Yonhap.
"As of 9:07 P.M. on the 29th (5:07 P.M. Astana time), the death toll from the Jeju Air crash stands at 179," Yonhap reported, citing the National Fire Agency.
According to the publication, this plane crash is the deadliest in South Korea’s history.
Acting President of South Korea Choi Sang-mok has declared a seven-day national mourning period from December 29 to January 4.
The causes of the crash remain unclear. Preliminary theories include a bird strike, engine and landing gear malfunctions, braking system failures, or an inadequate runway length.
The plane attempted to land twice. It is unclear whether the first failed attempt was caused by landing gear malfunctions or engine problems. The aircraft then attempted a belly landing, but its nose remained elevated as it sped down the runway, eventually crashing into a barrier.
Video recordings show the plane failing to slow down on the runway, with its nose raised until it "inevitably" collided with a barrier.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Jeju Air was on a flight from Bangkok to Muan when it crashed while landing at Muan Airport at 9:07 A.M. local time. The aircraft overshot the runway and collided with a barrier, resulting in a fire.
There were 181 people on board. Two survived — a male and a female crew member — who were transported to hospitals with moderate and severe injuries.
According to preliminary reports by local authorities, there were no Kazakhstani nationals among the passengers.
On December 30, a light aircraft belonging to the Jazirah Aviation Club in the United Arab Emirates crashed into the sea off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah emirate.
On December 29, airliners in Canada and Norway miraculously avoided disasters.
On December 25, 2024, a tragic plane crash involving an Embraer aircraft from the Azerbaijani airline Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) occurred three kilometers from Aktau airport. The plane, on a flight from Baku to Grozny, crashed during an emergency landing attempt. There were 62 passengers and 5 crew members on board.