South Korea: Death toll from plane crash rises to 62; officials suspect 'bird strike'
Tragic Plane Crash in South Korea's Muan County
Jeju Air Flight Disaster
A passenger jet operated by Jeju Air crashed in Muan County, South Korea, resulting in 62 deaths. The aircraft, carrying 181 people, veered off the runway at Musan International Airport and burst into flames.
Details of the Incident
The crash occurred at 9:07 am local time as the plane returned from Bangkok. It carried 175 passengers, mostly South Korean nationals, and six crew members. Two Thai nationals were also on board.
Local TV footage showed the plane attempting to land without its landing gear, skidding along the ground, and crashing into a concrete wall before exploding.
Rescue and Investigation Efforts
Firefighters have extinguished the fire, and search and rescue operations are ongoing. Around 80 firefighters are involved in the efforts. Preliminary investigations suggest a landing gear failure, possibly due to a bird strike, as the cause of the crash.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has directed officials to focus on rescue efforts and visited the crash site. An emergency meeting led by Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk was held to discuss the government's response.
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner-General Lee Ho-young has ordered the mobilization of all available resources to assist in the rescue operations.
Doubts Revealed
Jeju Air
Jeju Air is an airline company from South Korea. They operate flights to different places, mostly in Asia. It's like how we have IndiGo or Air India in India.
Muan County
Muan County is a region in South Korea. It's similar to how we have districts in India, like Bengaluru in Karnataka.
Landing gear
Landing gear is the part of an airplane that helps it land safely on the ground. It's like the wheels of a car, but for airplanes.
Bird strike
A bird strike happens when a bird hits an airplane, usually during takeoff or landing. This can sometimes cause damage to the plane, like breaking the landing gear.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok
Choi Sang-mok is a government official in South Korea. An acting president is someone who temporarily takes on the role of president when the actual president is unavailable.
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