On December 29, 2024, Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800 en route from Bangkok to Muan, South Korea, crashed during landing at Muan International Airport. The aircraft skidded off the runway, collided with a concrete wall, and burst into flames, resulting in 179 fatalities out of 181 people on board. Only two crew members survived with serious injuries.
Preliminary investigations suggest a bird strike may have damaged the landing gear, contributing to the crash. The design and placement of a concrete wall near the runway are under scrutiny. This is the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea in two decades.
Authorities, including Boeing and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, are conducting a thorough investigation. Jeju Air, founded in 2005, had no prior fatal accidents before this tragedy. Efforts are underway to support the victims’ families as the nation mourns the catastrophic loss.
