South Korea plane’s final moments captured on video before hitting concrete barrier, triggering explosion

The horrifying moment a Jeju Air flight skidded off a runway, crashed into a concrete barrier, and burst into flames at an airport in South Korea was captured on camera, leaving a devastating aftermath. The tragic incident, which occurred on Sunday, resulted in the loss of 179 lives on board, with only two survivors, a man, and a woman who were crew members.

Disturbing footage broadcasted by South Korean television channels depicted the plane skidding without its landing gear deployed, overshooting the runway, and colliding with a barrier, leading to a massive explosion. Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the aircraft, identified as a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 passenger jet arriving from Bangkok, as it crashed at 9:03 a.m. local time near Muan, situated approximately 180 miles south of Seoul.

Kyle Bailey, a former FAA safety team representative in the U.S., expressed his observation that the aircraft was likely traveling at an excessive speed during the skid, ultimately striking a structure housing instrument landing equipment, leading to the catastrophic outcome. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders, commonly referred to as the black box, have been recovered by workers and will undergo examination by government experts to determine the cause of the crash and subsequent fire.

While investigations into the incident are ongoing, Lee Jeong-hyeon, chief of the Muan fire station, mentioned that various possibilities are being explored, including the potential of a bird strike. President Biden extended his condolences and offered assistance from the U.S. in the wake of the tragedy, emphasizing the strong bond between the American and South Korean people.

Transport Ministry officials disclosed that the airport control tower had issued a bird strike warning to the plane before the landing attempt and had authorized the pilot to land in an alternative area. The wreckage of the plane was described as completely destroyed, with only the tail assembly remaining recognizable, as confirmed by the fire chief during a televised briefing.

The heartbreaking incident serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with air travel and the importance of stringent safety measures to prevent such devastating occurrences. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time.