Is Jeju Air a Korean airline? What we know as CEO apologises amid South Korea’s deadliest plane disaster

A Jeju Air flight met with a fatal turn when it crashed in South Korea, resulting in the death of 179 people on December 29, 2024. The incident happened when the plane tried to land but accidentally got off the runway at around 9 am local time. There were 175 passengers, along with six crew members, inside the aircraft.

Jeju Air is a South Korean airline company. As per reports, the flight, which was a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, was arriving at Muan International Airport from Bangkok. Only two people were alive after the accident who were rescued from the aircraft’s tail.

According to an official Lee Jeong-Hyeon, although the aircraft was shattered into multiple pieces, the tail could only be identified. Over 1500 workers were deployed to rummage the aircraft’s wreckage.

As seen in the videos circulating online, the plane skidded down the runway on its belly before crashing into a barrier and erupting into a fiery explosion. Jeju Air’s CEO Kim E-bae apologized for the event during a press conference. Speaking in Korean, he said:

“I would like to express my deepest condolences and apologies to the passengers who have passed away due to this accident and their family members. Jeju Air will make every effort to resolve the situation quickly and support the family members of the passengers. In addition, we will do our best to find out the cause of the accident with the government.”

The CEO stated that the aircraft had been well-maintained according to the prescribed maintenance program. There were no indications of any issues with it.

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Reports say Jeju Air did not experience any such fatal incident previously

The Muan International Airport had cautioned the pilots about a possible bird strike during landing, according to an aviation official. A Mayday alert was issued immediately. The black boxes have been recovered to determine the cause of the crash.

The crash was a rare incident for South Korea, known for its strong aviation safety record. It marked the first fatal accident for Jeju Air, a budget airline founded in 2005. The airline issued an apology and pledged to address the situation. Its website has the message:

“We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident. We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused.”

The plane was also diverted to Seoul due to a medical emergency recently during a flight to Beijing. However, no prior technical issues were reported.

A rescued crew member mentioned that one of the plane's engines emitted smoke and exploded as it neared the airport for landing, according to local reports. Both rescued crew members are receiving treatment depending on their injuries, as confirmed by the head of the local health center.

Boeing reportedly expressed condolences and confirmed it is in communication with Jeju Air following the crash. Investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as potential causes for the accident.