A tragic incident involving a Jeju Air Flight 7C 2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, which was carrying 181 passengers and crew on board, occurred at Muan International Airport in South Korea. The plane skidded off the runway and hit the fence, resulting in a massive explosion. This heartbreaking event led to a significant loss of life. In addition, various TV programs and award shows have been canceled, and celebrities have conveyed their heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families who have lost their loved ones.
Warning: The following report contains footage and images that may be disturbing or offensive to some people. Please note viewer discretion is advised.
Entertainment Shows Cancel Live Broadcasts and Celebrities Honor Victims of Jeju Air Flight Crash
On December 29, at around 9 a.m. (local time), Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 from Bangkok (BKK) to Muan (MWX) experienced a tragic incident after landing at Muan International Airport, in South Jeolla Province, approximately 288 kilometers from Seoul.
Jeju Air Flight 2216 Crashed at Muan International Airport
Horrifying footage of the emergency landing of a Jeju Air shows the aircraft touching down the runway with no visible landing gear. Moreover, due to the high speed, it skidded until the end of the runway. This situation caused sparks due to friction between the fuselage and the runway. Due to uncontrollable speed, the plane hit the airport fence wall and exploded, marking the deadliest airline crash since 1997 in South Korea.
✈️✈️🚨🚨RECAP: What We Know About Jeju Air Flight 7C2216…🚨🚨✈️✈️
— AviationSource (@AvSourceNews) December 29, 2024
– Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 is a routine scheduled flight between Bangkok and Muan. This route was recently launched a few weeks ago, with the first service taking place on December 8th.
– The aircraft involved… pic.twitter.com/ztKJjIoouJ
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed hours after the tragic incident that the control tower had issued a bird strike warning prior to landing and that the pilot had declared a Mayday one minute later.
The reason for the twin-engine plane landing without landing gear is still unclear, whether it was due to technical failure or bird strikes. Therefore, the cause of the Jeju Air plane crash at Muan Airport is still under investigation. After the joint investigation is completed, a detailed explanation of the cause will be announced.
Jeju Air Flight Crash: Victims and Survivors
In the tragic Boeing 737-800 incident, 179 passengers out of 181 passengers, ranging in age from five to seventy, were confirmed dead by the authorities, and only two survived.
The Jeju Air plane crash survivors are two flight attendants—a male and a female—in their twenties. Rescuers found both survivors on the tail of the burning aircraft, and they are currently receiving treatment for their severe injuries.
Moreover, several news outlets reported that among the passengers were team members from the professional baseball KIA Tigers and sports officials. In addition, social media posts also sought to confirm the whereabouts of Korean attendees from the 2024 Asia Artist Awards in Bangkok on December 27, who were scheduled to return to Korea on December 29. Some individuals have reported experiencing difficulties in contacting their friends who were expected to return via Jeju Air following the ceremony.
Since Sunday morning, the Korean Women Farmers Muan County Association and local residents have volunteered at the airport’s cafeteria, providing meals for victims’ families, forensic teams, airport staff, and other volunteers.
7-Day National Mourning
Following South Korea’s worst aviation disaster yesterday, Acting President Choi Sang-mok officially announced a seven-day national mourning period, lasting until midnight on January 4.
During the mourning period, authorities will establish joint memorial altars at the incident site. They will also set memorial altars in 17 cities and provinces, including South Jeolla, Gwangju, Seoul, and Sejong. Moreover, flags at all levels of government and public institutions will fly at half-mast. Additionally, all public officers will wear mourning ribbons to show respect.
Furthermore, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Park Sang-woo, announced Muan International Airport will be temporarily closed until January 1, 2025, at 5 a.m.
Entertainment Programs and Shows: Canceled and No Live Broadcasts
To honor the victims of Jeju Air and their families, JTBC, KBS, MBC, and SBS have confirmed the cancellation of several entertainment programs and live broadcasts, including:
- “The King of Mask Singer”
- “Running Man”
- “2D1N”
- “Gag Concert”
- “The Ddanddara”
- “Inkigayo”
- “Boss in the Mirror”
- “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator” featuring Song Joong Ki
- JTBC’s ‘Newsroom’ featuring Hyun Bin
- “2024 MBC Entertainment Awards”
- “2024 SBS Entertainment Awards”
- “2024 MBC Drama Awards”
- “2024 KBS Drama Awards”
- “2024 MBC Music Festival”
An official from KBS explained that the network had made some changes to its programming to provide information to the public in response to the national disaster. These changes included the cancellation of entertainment and comedy programs.
Celebrities Honor Victims of Jeju Air Flight Disaster
Many celebrities offered condolences and support for “victims’ families through social media that day.
Jo Se Ho posted on his social media, “Hearing the news of the airplane accident has left me heartbroken and devastated. I sincerely send my condolences to the bereft families and pray for the souls of the deceased.”
Actress Lee Yoon Ji shared her tribute, saying, “I pray for the souls of the many precious lives lost.”
Actress Byun Jung Soo shared an image of chrysanthemums and wrote, “A sudden and heartbreaking event has occurred. I pray for the souls of the deceased.”
In addition, Korean trot singers Lim Young Woong and Sung Si Kyung led moments of silence during their concerts to mourn the crash victims.
We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families, and all those directly affected during this tragic time.
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