More than 150 of passengers have been killed in the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil in decades with only two members of the crew having been confirmed to have survived
A flight map of the doomed Jeju Air plane that crashed at a South Korean airport reveals the flight’s journey in the hours leading up to the deadly disaster.
Tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed the show the flight was scheduled to leave Bangkok for Muan at about 2.29am local time and that it travelled a route over Vietnam, the South China Sea, and East China Sea before making an approach for the airport in south-west South Korea about four and a half hours later. FlightRadar24 data showed that the last ADS-B message, used to know a location of an aircraft, took place at about 11.58pm (Saturday) UK time. At the time it was at an altitude of about 500 feet approaching Runway 1 at Muan.
It added no further ADS-B messages were sent from the aircraft and that there are multiple explanations for this such as a “wider electrical failure.” Jeju Air flight 2216 was operated by a Boeing 737-800 that was registered HL8088. The aircraft is understood to have been acquired by Jeju Air in 2017. Previously, Ryanair used the aircraft from between 2009 and 2016.
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A video of the crash showed the plane did not have its landing wheels down as it hit the runway. The plane skidded several hundred yards before smashing head on into a wall at the end of the runway. A massive explosion was seen moments later with passengers reportedly having been thrown from the aircraft. The clip showed the plane suffered extensive damage.
At least 177 people died in the disaster at Muan International Airport. The plane is said to have had 181 people onboard at the time of the crash. Two survivors have been rescued from the wreckage as emergency crews comb through the debris, both are believed to be flight crew who had been sitting at the rear of the aircraft.
Muan fire department chief Lee Jeong-hyun told a televised briefing the tail section of the plane appears intact but “one cannot recognise the shape of the rest of the plane”. South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok has declared a special disaster zone in Muan in response to the tragedy which makes central government funding available to local government and victims.
In a presidential office statement, Choi said: “We have a grave situation where a great loss of life ocurred after a plane went off the runway in Muan airport this morning. I express my deepest condolences to the many victims in the incident. I will do all I can for the injured to quickly recover. I give my condolences to the victims and give my sincere regards to the bereaved families.”
The National Fire Agency of South Korea said more than 140 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage. It said 71 of the bodies that were pulled from the plane were identified as male with 71 being identified as female. Officials are still waiting to confirm the genders of the others who died onboard.
South Korean officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. It has been reported a bird strike and poor weather conditions are being considered as possible explanations. All flights to and from Muan International Airport have been cancelled.
