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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korean airline Jeju Air suffered a deadly plane crash on Sunday, December 29, at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla province. The aircraft, carrying 181 people, including 175 passengers and 6 crew, crashed upside down and skidded off the runway. The plane hit the airport wall and exploded.
The plane departed from Bangkok before experiencing a landing-gear malfunction, and a bird strike was cited as one of the possible causes of the crash.
Based on the latest report, the crash killed 179 people onboard, with two surviving crew members who are being treated for injuries.
"Only the tail section is still slightly deformed, and the rest (of the plane) looks almost impossible to recognize," Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun told a news conference.
Jeju Air Profile
Citing its official website, Jeju Air began operating in 2005 as a low-cost carrier. The airline, which joined the Value Alliance in 2016, has a service base in Jeju City, Jeju-do, South Korea.
In 2018, Jeju Air served 7.3 million international passengers and 4.7 million domestic passengers. The airline's domestic traffic has been relatively flat since 2016, as it has focused almost entirely on international expansion.
The name Jeju Air itself is inspired by an island in Jeju Province, South Korea. Located in the Korea Strait, just below the Korean Peninsula, the island is home to several world heritage sites, such as Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes.
Kim Yi-bae, the CEO of Jeju Air, has been awarded the Korea CEO Hall of Fame 2024 in the aviation category, as cited from mk.co.kr. The award, presented by the Korea Institute for Industrial Policy, is crowned to company leaders who “have greatly contributed to the development of the national industry and economy.”
Incidents Involving Jeju Air
In addition to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with flight number 7C2216, Jeju Air has recorded several incidents, including:
- Jeju Air DH8D (August 7, 2007)
Citing The Aviation Herald, a Jeju Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 (DH8D) flying from Jeju to Busan, South Korea, with 74 passengers and five crew members, skidded off the runway on August 7, 2007. The aircraft lost direction and veered left off the runway, resulting in four passengers suffering minor injuries.
- Jeju Air Q400 (August 12, 2007)
Jeju Air's Bombardier Q400 skidded off the runway while landing in Busan on Sunday, August 12, 2007. The aircraft with registration number HL5256 carrying 74 passengers came to rest in a ditch between the two main runways, leaving six passengers with minor injuries and 10 with bruises.
- Jeju Air B738 (December 4, 2011)
A Boeing 737-800 with registration number HL7796 flying from Seoul Gimpo to Jeju suffered severe engine vibration after hitting a flock of mallard ducks. The aircraft, which flew on December 4, 2011, with 160 people on board, survived and landed about 25 minutes after taking off.
- Jeju Air B738 (December 24, 2015)
A Boeing 737-800 with registration number HL8049 flying from Seoul Gimpo to Jeju lost cabin pressure on December 24, 2015. The aircraft safely returned to Gimpo Airport 50 minutes after takeoff, with three passengers suffering minor injuries.
- Jeju Air B738 (March 4, 2016)
Jeju Air's Boeing 737-800 also experienced engine failure while flying on March 4, 2016. The aircraft with registration number HL8033 bound for Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, was diverted for an emergency landing at Iwo Jima Air Base, Bandawa Iwoto, Japan, due to severe engine vibrations.
- Jeju Air B738 (October 16, 2018)
Jeju Air's Boeing 737-800 with flight number 7C-107 from Seoul Gimpo to Jeju suffered a burst tire upon landing on October 16, 2018. One of the right hand main tires of the aircraft carrying 189 people burst while going through a turn at high speed.
- Jeju Air B738 (June 12, 2019)
Jeju Air's Boeing 737-800 with flight number 7C4606 from Angeles, Philippines, to Seoul experienced cabin pressure problems on June 12, 2019. As a result, the aircraft carrying 149 people returned to Angeles for a safe landing, about 40 minutes after departure.
- Jeju Air B738 (March 10, 2021)
The left wing tip of Jeju Air's Boeing 737-800 with flight number 7C264 broke when it hit the runway during landing on March 10, 2021. The aircraft, which was flying with 138 people, successfully landed without casualties.
- Jeju Air 8738 (January 26, 2023)
The right hand engine of Jeju Air's Boeing 737-800 emitted bangs and streaks of flame during a flight from Sapporo, Japan, to Seoul on Thursday, January 26, 2023. The plane carrying 187 passengers and six crew members was forced to return to Sapporo for an emergency landing, about 80 minutes after departure.
Dewi Rina Cahyani, Suci Sekarwati, and Ni Kadek Trisna Cintya Dewi contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor’s Choice: Another Jeju Air Jet Suffers Landing-Gear Issue, Returns Safely
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