Muan County, South Korea (CNN) – Sobs, prayers, and anguish filled Muan International Airport’s departures hall on Monday as grieving families awaited news of their loved ones. The devastating Jeju Air crash, which claimed 179 lives on Sunday, is South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster in nearly three decades.
The Boeing 737-800, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, crash-landed shortly after 9 a.m. local time. Only two crew members survived. Authorities have identified 146 victims, with efforts ongoing for the remaining 33.
Mourners gathered at the airport’s atrium, some praying silently, others embracing or angrily demanding answers from officials. Yellow tents provided overnight shelter for families.
Investigators are probing the cause of the crash. The pilot reported a bird strike and declared an emergency before attempting a “go-around” – an aborted landing maneuver. However, the plane skidded on its belly and erupted in flames after striking an embankment.
Video footage revealed the landing gear failed to deploy, though the reason remains unclear. The black boxes have been recovered, but one requires further analysis in Seoul or possibly the United States.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is assisting South Korean officials. Experts are questioning whether the bird strike alone could have caused such a catastrophic failure.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, declared a week of national mourning and ordered an inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the country. He pledged transparency and support for grieving families.
Among the victims were 84 men, 85 women, and 10 unidentified individuals, mostly South Koreans. Two Thai nationals also perished, including Jongluk Duangmanee, a factory worker returning to Korea after visiting family.
“She was almost home,” said Jeon Je-Young, who lost his daughter. Grieving families continue to lay flowers and candles at a memorial site in Muan, mourning lives tragically cut short.
