Families of the 179 people killed in the Jeju Air disaster have been camping out at the airport as they demand answers over the deadliest crash in South Korea’s history.
Hundreds of family members are still camped out at the Muan International Airport to see the bodies of their loved ones.
Some, who have lost generations in the crash, jostled and argued with officials, angry that they’ve still not been able to see the bodies.
One official told the crowds they are unable to view the deceased as their bodies were “very badly damaged”, according to the BBC.
Authorities have confirmed that all 175 passengers, as well as four of the six crew, were killed in the incident. The only two survivors were crew sitting at the back of the plane at the time of the crash.
Experts said it seemed unlikely a bird strike would have been the sole cause of the landing gear malfunctioning.
Australian airline safety expert Geoffrey Dell said: “I’ve never seen a bird strike prevent the landing gear from being extended.”
Key Points
- Why did the South Korean Jeju Air flight crash, killing 179? Experts question bird strike claims
- Families camp out at airport demanding answers
- Another Jeju Air flight faces similar landing gear issue - report
- South Korea orders emergency air safety probe after Jeju Air crash
- Why was there a concrete wall at end of runway?
Why did the South Korean Jeju Air flight crash, killing 179? Experts question bird strike claims
14:42
Barney Davis
Experts said it seemed unlikely a bird strike would have been the sole cause of the landing gear malfunctioning.
Muan has the highest rate of bird strikes among South Korea’s 14 airports
14:20
Barney Davis
According to data submitted to Rep Lee Yeon-hee of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, a total of 559 bird strike incidents occurred with planes at 14 regional airports from 2019.
Gimhae International Airport had the highest number of bird strikes at 147, followed by Gimpo at 140, Jeju at 119, Daegu at 38 and Cheongju at 33.
At Muan, a total of 10 bird strike incidents have occurred.
However, when considering the occurrence rate relative to the total number of flights operated, the airport near Muan has the highest rate among the 14 airports.
Investigators are examining bird strikes, whether any of the aircraft’s control systems were disabled, and the apparent rush by the pilots to attempt a landing soon after declaring an emergency as possible factors in the crash, fire and transportation officials have said.
Experts say many questions remain, including why the plane, powered by two CFM 56-7B26 engines, appeared to be travelling so fast and why its landing gear did not appear to be down when it skidded down the runway and into a concrete embankment.
In pictures: Families mourn loss at the scene where Jeju Air Boeing 737 crashed
13:20
Barney Davis
What is a bird strike?
12:20
Barney Davis
A bird strike is a collision between a plane in flight and a bird. In the UK there were more than 1,400 bird strikes reported in 2022, but only about 100 affected the plane.
The miraculous Hudson River landing was needed after the airbus collided with a flock of geese. All 155 passengers and crew survived.
But some aviation experts are sceptical about whether a bird strike could have caused the crash at Muan Airport.
“Typically they [bird strike] don’t cause the loss of an airplane by themselves,” Mr Thomas told Reuters.
Australian airline safety expert Geoffrey Dell also told the news agency: “I’ve never seen a bird strike prevent the landing gear from being extended.”
Jeju Air reassure Thai victims they will be responsible for damages
11:30
Barney Davis
Thai Ambassador to South Korea Tanee Sangrat expressed condolences to the families and said JeJu Air officials had told them the airline will be responsible for costs of tragedy.
“The Embassy has reported the tragedy to the Foreign Minister and (the Thai) MFA and coordinated closely with (the) Korean authorities concerned. Our Consular Department has informed families of the two Thai victims,” he said.
“Our Embassy has also worked closely with Jeju Air officials who reassured us that they would be responsible for the related costs of damages of the victims.
“Today the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul and Team Thailand offices have lowered the flag for seven days in mourning for the victims. We will continue to work with all local authorities and provide assistance to victims and their families.”
Concerns raised over quick 28-minute safety check before fatal flight
11:00
Barney Davis
The Korea Times reports that the doomed B737 flew four countries in a day, the month before the crash with tight one-hour turnarounds allowing just 28 minutes for safety checks.
One veteran mechanic with over a decade of experience working with B737s told Korea Times: “The 28-minute maintenance time is barely enough to check for cockpit warning lights and visually inspect the exterior for obvious damage. It’s essentially a walkthrough, not a detailed inspection.”
The aircraft involved in the crash was purchased by Jeju Air in 2017 but had previously been operated by Ryanair.
Alarmingly, just one day after the crash, another Jeju Air B737 experienced a landing gear issue and was forced to return to the airport immediately after takeoff.
Investigators to probe materials of concrete fence
10:28
Barney Davis
New acting president Choi Sang-mok on Monday presided over a task force meeting on the crash and instructed authorities to conduct an emergency review of the country’s aircraft operation systems.
“The essence of a responsible response would be renovating the aviation safety systems on the whole to prevent recurrences of similar incidents and building a safer Republic of South Korea,” said Mr Choi, who is also deputy prime minister and finance minister.
Ministry officials said they will look into whether a concrete fence at Muan Airport housing a set of antennas designed to guide aircraft safely during landings should have been made with lighter materials that would break more easily upon impact.
Video of the crash indicated that the pilots did not deploy flaps or slats to slow the aircraft, suggesting a possible hydraulic failure, and did not manually lower the landing gear, suggesting they did not have time, said John Cox, a retired airline pilot and chief executive of Safety Operating Systems in St Petersburg, Florida.
Despite that, the jet was under control and travelling in a straight line, and damage and injuries likely would have been minimised if not for the barrier being so close to the runway, Mr Cox said.
Thai family grieves daughter’s death in crash: ‘My daughter won’t come back’
10:00
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A family in northeastern Thailand are mourning the loss of Jongluk Duangmanee, one of two Thai nationals of the Jeju Air crash, and wish to bring her body home for a religious ceremony.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when the Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at South Korea’s Muan International Airport yesterday.
Boonchuay Duangmanee, 77, said he must come to terms with his 45-year-old daughter’s sudden death.“I can only accept it, make peace with it,” he told state broadcaster Thai PBS.
“No matter what I do, my daughter won’t come back.”He had felt a “sense of unease” when neighbours told him of the Jeju Air crash, he added, as his daughter often travelled with the airline.
Jongluk, the third youngest in the family, had been working in South Korea for seven years and would visit her home in Udon Thani, about 500km north of the Thai capital, every year.
In pics: Rescuers comb Jeju Air plane crash site on Monday
09:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Another Jeju Air flight faces similar landing gear issue - report
09:00
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A Jeju Air aircraft that departed from Gimpo Airport in Seoul for Jeju today experienced an unidentified landing-gear issue after take-off and returned to Gimpo, Yonhap news agency reported.
The aircraft landed safely at the Gimpo airport, it added.
The airline informed its 161 passengers on board about the mechanical defect caused by the landing gear issue and subsequently returned the flight around 7.25am (local time).
This comes a day after a Jeju Air flight crashed at the Muan international airport yesterday, killing all 175 passengers along with four crew members
South Korea plans to inspect Boeing 737-800 jetliners
08:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
South Korea’s transport ministry today said the government plans to conduct safety inspections on all Boeing 737-800 jetliners operated by the country’s airlines.
The Boeing 737-800 plane operated by South Korea’s budget airline Jeju Air skidded off a runway at Muan International Airport in the country’s south, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into a fireball yesterday. The incident killed all but two of the 181 people aboard.
Acting president Choi Sang Mok presided over a task force meeting on the crash and instructed the Transport Ministry and police to launch investigations into its cause. He also ordered the ministry to implement an emergency review of the country’s overall aircraft operation systems.
Families camp out at airport demanding answers
08:23
Barney Davis
Aid materials are arriving in the area set up for family members arriving at the airport to identify the victims.
They have set up rows of booths handing out ramen, water, fruits and tissues, according to the BBC.
The crash killed mostly local residents who were returning from holidays in Thailand, while two Thai nationals also died.
“I can only accept it, make peace with it,” said Boonchuay Duangmanee, 77, the father of one of the Thai victims. “When I think about it, I remind myself that it was an accident. It’s something that can happen to anyone. So, we’ve come to terms with it because no matter what I do, my daughter won’t come back.”
On Monday morning, investigators were trying to identify some of the more than two dozen remaining victims, as anguished families waited inside the Muan airport terminal.
Park Han-shin, who lost his brother in the crash, said he was told by authorities that his brother had been identified but has not been able to see his body.
Park called on other victims’ families to unite in responding to the disaster and recovery efforts, citing a 2014 ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people. Many relatives of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster complained it took authorities too long to identify those killed and the cause of that accident.
Jeju Air CEO bows in apology after South Korea deadly plane crash
08:00
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Jeju Air’s CEO bowed in apology after one of his airline’s passenger planes crashed and burst into flames at an airport in South Korea.
At a news conference in Gimpo, Kim E-bae issued a “sincere apology and condolences to those who have lost their lives in the accident and their families.”
More than 140 victims identified
07:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
At least 141 victims of the Jeju Air plane crash have been identified so far, South Korea’s land ministry said today, according to Yonhap news agency.
The ministry said all the 179 bodies have been moved to a temporary morgue and families of the victims will be contacted following autopsies.
“Once we are ready to transfer the bodies following autopsies by investigation agencies, we will contact the families,” an official said.
Distraught families want answers after 179 people die
07:17
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Grieving families screamed and wept at a South Korean airport as the names of the dead were confirmed after a plane carrying 181 people crashed, killing all but two on board, in the worst domestic aviation disaster in the country’s history.
An investigation has been launched, with a bird strike collision among the contributory factors being considered for the crash. Preliminary reports also suggest the plane’s front landing gear failed to deploy.
Among the dead were three generations of the same family, with a man in his sixties telling Korean Yonhap news agency that his sister-in-law, daughter, her husband and their young children were tragically on board.
More here.
King Charles and Queen ‘profoundly saddened’ by crash
07:00
Jabed Ahmed
The King has paid tribute to the victims of a plane crash in South Korea which claimed the lives of 179 people.
“My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the horrific air accident at Muan, which resulted in such grievous loss of life,” the King said in a statement.
“As the people of the Republic of Korea mourn this disaster, the families and loved ones of all the victims are in our prayers.”
Experts question bird strike claims
06:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Experts have questioned whether a bird strike could have caused the undercarriage to fail after a flight with 181 people onboard crashed in South Korea yesterday.
All but two of the 181 people aboard Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 died on Sunday morning after the plane embarked on an unsuccessful emergency landing at South Korea’s Maun International airport. It had flown in from the Thai capital of Bangkok, carrying dozens of Christmas holidaymakers.
Among the passengers were five children under the age of 10, including a three-year-old.
Horrifying footage showed the plane skidding across the runway before colliding with a brick wall and bursting into flames. The only two survivors were two crew members who had been seated at the back of the plane.
More here.
US investigators help South Korea in probe after crash
06:00
Jabed Ahmed
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a team of US investigators to help South Korea‘s aviation authority in its investigation of the Jeju Air crash in Muan, the agency said.
Planemaker Boeing BA.N and the Federal Aviation Administration are participating, NTSB said.
Watch: Moment South Korea plane skids along runway before fiery crash
05:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A Jeju Air passenger plane carrying 181 people skidded down the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday, December 29, before crashing.
The aircraft appeared to land without its landing gear deployed as it touched down on the tarmac, skidding and veering off the runway before slamming into a wall and bursting into flames.
Watch here.
Keir Starmer pays tribute
05:00
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer sent his “deepest condolences” to the victims of a plane crash in South Korea which killed 179 people.
“I send my deepest condolences to the victims and families of those who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash in Muan,” the Prime Minister said.
“I pay tribute to the work of the emergency responders and my thoughts are with the people of the Republic of Korea and Thailand at this terrible time.”
Another Jeju Air jet experiences landing-gear issue - report
04:30
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
A Jeju Air aircraft that departed from Gimpo Airport in Seoul for Jeju today experienced an unidentified landing-gear issue after take-off and returned to Gimpo, Yonhap news agency reported.
The aircraft landed safely at the Gimpo airport, it added.
This comes a day after a Jeju Air flight crashed at the Muan international airport yesterday, killing all 175 passengers along with four crew members
.One of the survivors was being treated for fractures to his ribs, shoulder blade and upper spine, said Ju Woong, director of the Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital.
Ju said the man, whose name was not released, told doctors he “woke up to find (himself) rescued”. Details on the other survivor were not immediately available.
In pics: Wreckage of the Jeju Air flight
04:15
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Father of woman killed says the tragedy is unbelievable
04:00
Jabed Ahmed
Jeon Je-young keeps playing the video of the plane with his daughter and another 180 people on board slamming into a wall and bursting into flames at a South Korean airport.
His daughter Mi-sook died on board. He still can’t believe it.
“When I saw the accident video, the plane seemed out of control,” 71-year-old Jeon told Reuters. “The pilots probably had no choice but to do it. My daughter, who is only in her mid-40s, ended up like this. This is unbelievable.”
Mi-sook was a warm-hearted child, he said. She brought some food and next year’s calendar to his house on 21 December, which became his last brief moment with her.
“She is much nicer than my son, sometimes asking me to go out for a meal,” Jeon recalled, showing his last exchanges with his daughter on his mobile phone.
Jeon’s daughter had been on her way home after travelling with friends to Bangkok for the Christmas holiday. She leaves behind a devastated family, including a husband and teenage daughter.
“The water near the airport is not deep. Here are softer fields than this cement runway. Why couldn’t the pilot land there instead?” Jeon said.
“She was almost home, so (she saw) no need to call the family (to leave any final message). She thought she was coming home,” Jeon said.
Jeju Air flight black boxes recovered
03:45
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Both the black boxes for the Jeju Air flight that crashed on Sunday killing 179 people have been recovered, the South Korean authorities said.
Investigators retrieved the jet’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders, said senior transport ministry official Joo Jong-wan. He said it may take months to complete the probe into the crash.
The chief of the Muan fire station, Lee Jeong-hyeon, told a televised briefing that the plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail assembly still recognizable in the wreckage.
South Korean health ministry to provide counseling services to greiving families
03:30
Jabed Ahmed
The South Korean health ministry has sent funeral directors to help with funeral preparations and planned to offer professional counselling to the injured and family members of the victims, according to Yonhap news agency.
South Korea orders air safety probe after Jeju Air crash
03:16
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
South Korea’s acting president Choi Sang-mok has ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country’s entire airline operation system as investigators worked to identify victims of the Jeju Air crash.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when a Jeju Air flight elly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall. Two crew members were pulled out alive.
“Even before the final results are out, we ask that officials transparently disclose the accident investigation process and promptly inform the bereaved families,” Mr Choi said.
“As soon as the accident recovery is conducted, the transport ministry is requested to conduct an emergency safety inspection of the entire aircraft operation system to prevent recurrence of aircraft accidents,” he said.
The transport ministry said authorities were considering whether to conduct a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airliners.
South Korean president announces national period of mourning
03:00
Jabed Ahmed
Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok announced a period of national mourning over the deadly plane crash.
“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in this unexpected tragedy,” Choi said, according to Yonhap news agency.
He declared a seven-day national mourning period, starting Sunday, and lasting until midnight on Saturday.
Lammy offers condolences after plane crash in South Korea kills at least 177
02:30
Jabed Ahmed
What do we know about the aircraft involved?
02:00
Jabed Ahmed
The Boeing 737-800 involved in the accident was originally ordered by Ryanair and delivered to the airline’s Dublin base on 4 September 2009. It flew for the Irish carrier for seven years. In November 2016 it was withdrawn from use. Ryanair maintains a younger fleet than many airlines.
The 737 was returned to the lessor SMBC Aviation Capital. In February 2017 it was leased to Jeju Air, and flew from Dublin via Baku to Seoul Gimpo airport.
Since then it has been used for high-frequency regional flights. In the week before the accident, the aircraft flew mainly to and from Muan and the holiday island of Jeju. Destinations included Bangkok, Nagasaki, Taipei, Kota Kinabalu and Beijing.
Two days before the crash, the Boeing 737 was on a routine flight from Jeju to Beijing when it diverted to South Korea’s main airport, Incheon. The flight later continued to the Chinese capital.
Watch: Emergency workers assess Jeju Air crash site at South Korea's Muan airport
01:30
Jabed Ahmed
Plane crash highlights importance of government stability
01:00
Jabed Ahmed
The plane crash has brought attention to the possible threats to disaster response posed by turmoil in government.
South Korea’s government has been in upheaval after former president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law earlier this month and was then suspended.
In the moments following the disaster, there were positive indications. Seemingly putting aside their previous hostility, South Korea’s rival political groups responded to the tragedy with their own plans.
According to the Hankyoreh newspaper, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic party, departed for Muan and intends to remain there permanently to assist with rescue efforts. However, he will remain away from the crash site while recovery works are underway.
In the meantime, a taskforce headed by the ruling People Power party was established with the objective of looking into the incident and helping the families of the dead.
On Monday, taskforce members and the party’s acting leader, Kweon Seong-dong, will travel to Muan to “review accident response measures and prevention strategies” and visit the families of the deceased.
Why did the South Korean Jeju Air flight crash, killing 179? Experts question bird strike claims
00:31
Jabed Ahmed
Plane crash is ‘puzzling’, expert says
Sunday 29 December 2024 23:59
Jabed Ahmed
The plane crash contained "several contradictions", an aviation expert has said.
Captain Mike Vivian, former head of flight operations at the Civil Aviation Authority, told Sky News: “They [Boeing 737] are very stable, solid aircraft. They have a long pedigree.
“The pilots can cope with emergencies individually. Multiple emergencies coming together are difficult and they’re particularly difficult in the landing phase.”
The brick wall it struck was "not necessarily" exempt from international laws, but given that it caused the plane to explode, it is "another matter" if it was too strong, he added.
“It is a puzzling accident this - there are several contradictions.”
Flames reportedly seen from one of the engines could be consistent with the ingestion of a bird, but that wouldn’t necessarily stop the engine altogether, Captain Vivian added.
Another Jeju Air jet experienced landing-gear issue Monday and returned, Yonhap reports
Sunday 29 December 2024 23:43
Jabed Ahmed
A Jeju Air passenger jet that departed Gimpo Airport in Seoul for Jeju on Monday experienced an unidentified landing-gear issue after takeoff and returned to Gimpo where it landed safely, Yonhap news reported, citing an unnamed source.
Flying remains extremely safe despite latest plane tragedies over Christmas
Sunday 29 December 2024 23:30
Jabed Ahmed
Watch: Moment Jeju Air plane skids along South Korea runway before crash
Sunday 29 December 2024 23:01
Jabed Ahmed
Roundup: Distraught families want answers after 179 people die in South Korea’s deadliest domestic air disaster
Sunday 29 December 2024 22:01
Jabed Ahmed
Read the full report on today’s events:
Why was there a concrete wall at end of runway?
Sunday 29 December 2024 21:33
Jabed Ahmed
The Jeju Air flight from Bangkok crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in southwestern South Korea on Sunday morning. Footage showed the Boeing 737-800 “belly landing” without landing gear and sliding at high speed along the runway before hitting the wall.
Satellite maps show the concrete structure has stood at the southern end of the runway close to the perimeter fence for many years.
It holds the instrument landing system which helps pilots land at night or when visibility is poor.
At most airports, these systems are placed on collapsible structures.
The brick wall it struck was not necessarily exempt from international laws, but given that it caused the plane to explode, it may have been too strong.
If the plane had not struck the wall it would have hit through a perimeter fence, travelled over a road and likely stopped in an adjacent field.
The country’s deputy transport minister Joo Jong-wan said the runway’s 2,800m length was not a contributing factor in the crash - and maintained that walls at the ends were built to industry standards.
Explained: Everything we know about South Korea’s worst domestic air disaster
Sunday 29 December 2024 21:29
Jabed Ahmed
Joe Biden offers US assistance to South Korea
Sunday 29 December 2024 20:59
Jabed Ahmed
US President Joe Biden has said the United States is prepared to provide any necessary assistance to South Korea after a deadly plane crash in Muan.
“As close allies, the American people share deep bonds of friendship with the South Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy,” Biden said in a statement. “The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance.”
Survivor able to communicate in hospital
Sunday 29 December 2024 20:28
Jabed Ahmed
A 33-year-old flight attendant from the Jeju Air plane told doctors he had already been rescued when he woke up, according to news agency Yonhap.
He was first taken to a hospital in Mokpo, about 25km (15.5 miles) south of the airport, but was later transferred to Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital in the capital.
“He’s fully able to communicate,” Mr Ju said. “There’s no indication yet of memory loss or such.”
Lee was sitting in the back of the plane and remembers touching down, but nothing after that. When he arrived at the hospital, he simply asked: “What happened?”
The survivor, who suffered multiple fractures, is receiving special care due to the risk of after-effects, including total paralysis, the news agency added.
Full report: Plane crash kills 179 in South Korea as Jeju Air flight hits wall
Sunday 29 December 2024 19:19
Jabed Ahmed
Father of woman killed says the tragedy is unbelievable
Sunday 29 December 2024 18:59
Jabed Ahmed
Jeon Je-young keeps playing the video of the plane with his daughter and another 180 people on board slamming into a wall and bursting into flames at a South Korean airport.
His daughter Mi-sook died on board. He still can’t believe it.
“When I saw the accident video, the plane seemed out of control,” 71-year-old Jeon told Reuters. “The pilots probably had no choice but to do it. My daughter, who is only in her mid-40s, ended up like this. This is unbelievable.”
Mi-sook was a warm-hearted child, he said. She brought some food and next year’s calendar to his house on 21 December, which became his last brief moment with her.
“She is much nicer than my son, sometimes asking me to go out for a meal,” Jeon recalled, showing his last exchanges with his daughter on his mobile phone.
Jeon’s daughter had been on her way home after travelling with friends to Bangkok for the Christmas holiday. She leaves behind a devastated family, including a husband and teenage daughter.
“The water near the airport is not deep. Here are softer fields than this cement runway. Why couldn’t the pilot land there instead?” Jeon said.
“She was almost home, so (she saw) no need to call the family (to leave any final message). She thought she was coming home,” Jeon said.
South Korean president announces national period of mourning
Sunday 29 December 2024 18:39
Jabed Ahmed
Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok has announced a period of national mourning over the deadly plane crash, local media reported.
“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in this unexpected tragedy,” Choi said, according to Yonhap news agency.
He declared a seven-day national mourning period, starting Sunday, and lasting until midnight on Saturday.
South Korean health ministry to provide counseling services to greiving families
Sunday 29 December 2024 18:19
Jabed Ahmed
The South Korean health ministry has sent funeral directors to help with funeral preparations and planned to offer professional counselling to the injured and family members of the victims, according to Yonhap news agency.
US investigators help South Korea in probe after crash
Sunday 29 December 2024 17:59
Jabed Ahmed
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a team of US investigators to help South Korea‘s aviation authority in its investigation of the Jeju Air crash in Muan, the agency said.
Planemaker Boeing BA.N and the Federal Aviation Administration are participating, NTSB said.
Why did the South Korean Jeju Air flight crash, killing 179? Experts question bird strike claims
Sunday 29 December 2024 17:39
Jabed Ahmed
My colleague Tom Watling reports:
Keir Starmer pays tribute
Sunday 29 December 2024 17:17
Jabed Ahmed
Sir Keir Starmer has sent his “deepest condolences” to the victims of a plane crash in South Korea which killed 179 people.
“I send my deepest condolences to the victims and families of those who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash in Muan,” the Prime Minister said.
“I pay tribute to the work of the emergency responders and my thoughts are with the people of the Republic of Korea and Thailand at this terrible time.”
King Charles and Queen ‘profoundly saddened’ by crash
Sunday 29 December 2024 16:57
Jabed Ahmed
The King has paid tribute to the victims of a plane crash in South Korea which claimed the lives of 179 people.
“My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the horrific air accident at Muan, which resulted in such grievous loss of life,” the King said in a statement.
“As the people of the Republic of Korea mourn this disaster, the families and loved ones of all the victims are in our prayers.”
Lammy offers condolences after plane crash in South Korea kills at least 177
Sunday 29 December 2024 16:37
Tom Watling
Flying remains extremely safe despite latest plane tragedies over Christmas
Sunday 29 December 2024 16:08
Tom Watling
Plane crash kills 179 in South Korea as Jeju Air flight hits wall
Sunday 29 December 2024 15:39
Tom Watling
Chinese president expresses condolence to South Korea
Sunday 29 December 2024 15:11
Tom Watling
Chinese president Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to South Korea following the crash.
In a post on Telegram, Xi sent a message to acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok expressing shock at the large number of victims, China’s state-run CCTV said.
“On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I express my deep condolences to the victims and my sincerest consolations to the victims’ families, and wish for the swift recovery of the injured,” he was quoted as saying.
