A devastating plane crash in South Korea’s Muan county has left 179 people dead, with only two survivors. The Jeju Air flight, carrying 181 people, veered off the runway while landing at Muan International Airport at 9:07 a.m. on Sunday. It collided with a fence wall, erupted into flames, and was nearly destroyed by an explosion. Emergency responders have confirmed 85 deaths so far, with the remaining passengers presumed dead. The two survivors, a passenger and a crew member, are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mokpo.

Preliminary investigations suggest the plane attempted to land without its landing gear deployed, possibly due to a bird strike that caused a mechanical failure. The plane skidded along the ground before crashing into a concrete wall and bursting into flames. Videos aired by local media show the chaotic moments leading to the crash. Most of the passengers were South Korean nationals, with two Thai citizens onboard. Search and recovery operations are underway to retrieve the remaining bodies.

South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok visited the crash site and directed rescue officials to make every effort to recover victims and assist their families. Emergency alerts have been raised to the highest level, with police, firefighters, and other agencies collaborating in the operations. A government meeting led by the Presidential Chief of Staff was convened to address the situation and provide comprehensive support to the affected families.