179 people killed in South Korea plane crash
The bodies of 179 people have been recovered from the disaster at Muan International Airport in South Korea, where a passenger plane crashed and caught fire. Only two people survived the crash.
The Boeing 737-8AS of South Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air, which had taken off from the Thai capital Bangkok, crashed shortly after 9.00 local time (01:00 GMT+1) when it attempted to land and hit a wall, causing a fiery explosion.
An investigation into how the plane crashed is ongoing and could take months to complete. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered, Deputy Transport minister Joo Jong-wan said on Sunday afternoon.
The plane's landing gear failed to engage, possibly due to a collision with birds. South Korea's transport ministry said the control tower had issued a warning to that effect. The pilot sent a distress signal shortly before the failed landing attempt.
Two survivors
The plane was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members. Two crew members, a man and a woman, were pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospital. They are the only survivors.
"Of the 179 deceased, 65 have been identified," the fire service said, adding that DNA samples were being taken.
Most of the passengers were South Korean nationals. According to South Korean authorities, two passengers were Thai nationals. The youngest passenger was a 3-year-old boy, while the oldest was 78.
The plane crash is one of the deadliest in South Korea's history. The country's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, declared seven days of national mourning on Sunday.
Firefighters and rescue workers near the scene where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport © PHOTO YONHAP / AFP
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