Firefighters work to extinguish a hearth off the runway of Muan Worldwide Airport in Muan, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (Maeng Dae-hwan/Newsis through AP)
Maeng Dae-hwan/AP/Newsis
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Maeng Dae-hwan/AP/Newsis
SEOUL, South Korea — A airplane burst into flames after veering off a runway at an airport in South Korea on Sunday, killing no less than 28 folks on board, emergency officers mentioned.
The fireplace engulfed the plane carrying 181 folks when it skidded off the runway simply after touchdown and struck a barrier. The nation’s emergency workplace mentioned its touchdown gear appeared to have malfunctioned.
Footage of the crash aired by YTN tv confirmed the Jeju Air airplane skidding throughout the airstrip, apparently with its touchdown gear nonetheless closed, and colliding head-on with a concrete wall on the outskirts of the ability. The transport ministry mentioned the incident occurred at 9:03 a.m. native time.
The Nationwide Fireplace Company mentioned the hearth was nearly put out however officers have been nonetheless attempting to tug folks from the Jeju Air passenger airplane on the airport within the southern city of Muan.
At the least 28 folks had died within the hearth, the company mentioned. Emergency staff pulled out two folks — one passenger and one crew member. It mentioned it deployed 32 hearth vans and several other helicopters to include the hearth.
Emergency officers mentioned they have been inspecting the reason for the hearth.
Native TV stations aired footage displaying thick pillows of black smoke billowing from the airplane engulfed with flame.
The incident got here as South Korea is embroiled into an enormous political disaster triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment. Final Friday, South Korean lawmakers impeached performing President Han Duck-soo and suspended his duties, making Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to take over.
Choi ordered officers to make use of all obtainable sources to rescue the passengers and crew, based on Yonhap information company. Yoon’s workplace mentioned his chief secretary, Chung Jin-suk, will preside over an emergency assembly between senior presidential workers afterward Sunday to debate the crash.
