Pilot Issued "Mayday" Before Deadly Jeju Air Crash in South Korea

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 passengers from Thailand to South Korea crashed on Sunday, killing 179 people. The plane crash-landed at Muan International Airport, skidded off the runway, hit a wall, and burst into flames. Only two flight attendants survived the tragedy, making it South Korea's worst aviation disaster on record.

Authorities suspect a bird strike caused the crash. Minutes before impact, the control tower issued a bird strike warning, followed by the pilot's "mayday" distress call. The crash left the plane nearly destroyed, with passengers flung from the wreckage. Both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered, and investigations are underway.

US investigators, including teams from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing, have joined South Korean authorities to determine the cause of the crash. Despite South Korea’s strong air safety record, the crash has prompted widespread grief and calls for accountability.

Tearful families gathered at the airport Sunday night as officials identified victims, many of whom were Korean nationals. The plane carried two Thai passengers, a child and an elderly woman, among the deceased. Survivors described waking up after the crash in shock, with one flight attendant suffering multiple fractures and another minor injuries.

Rescue workers have been clearing the site under floodlights, with charred debris scattered across the runway. Jeju Air, a leading low-cost carrier in South Korea, issued an apology, and acting President Choi Sang-mok declared a seven-day mourning period. Memorial altars are being set up nationwide to honor the victims.

US President Joe Biden and global leaders extended condolences, with Biden expressing deep sadness over the tragedy. This is the first fatal accident in Jeju Air’s history since its establishment in 2005, underscoring the dangers of bird strikes in aviation.