Video captures moment Jeju Air plane crashes and catches fire after skidding off runway at South Korea airport

Dramatic footage captured the moment when a Boeing 737-800, operated by South Korea’s Jeju Air, skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport on Sunday, bursting into flames. The horrifying visuals show the twin-engine aircraft, which was attempting to land after a flight from Bangkok, skidding uncontrollably along the runway. Within moments, the plane collided with a concrete barrier, and a massive fireball engulfed the aircraft, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

South Korea Plane Crash: At Least 85 Confirmed Dead

At least 85 people have been confirmed dead in the crash, according to South Korea’s National Fire Agency. The victims include 37 women and 25 men. The aircraft was carrying 181 people, including six crew members. Among the passengers, there were two Thai nationals. Emergency responders, including 32 fire trucks and several helicopters, were dispatched to the scene immediately after the crash occurred at approximately 9:03 a.m. local time.


“Rescue operations are underway, with authorities trying to evacuate passengers from the rear section of the jet,” said a local fire department official. Two people, a passenger and a flight attendant, were rescued from the wreckage, but the number of fatalities is expected to rise as more bodies are recovered.

Also Read: South Korea Plane Crash: 85 casualties reported after plane catches fire at Muan airport, rescue work underway

South Korea Plane Crash: Landing Gear Malfunction Likely Cause

The crash is believed to have been caused by a malfunction in the aircraft’s landing gear, which appeared to fail during the landing attempt. The plane reportedly made an attempted ‘belly landing’—a last-resort manoeuvre used when the landing gear does not deploy properly. Initial reports suggest that the malfunction may have been caused by a bird strike. The plane, which was returning from Bangkok, veered off the runway and collided with a concrete fence at Muan International Airport, located approximately 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul.

The crash took place during the plane’s final approach. Local television footage aired by YTN showed the aircraft with its landing gear still retracted as it skidded across the runway, before it collided with the airport's perimeter wall. Thick clouds of black smoke could be seen rising from the site shortly after the crash, and flames quickly consumed the aircraft.

In the aftermath of the disaster, South Korean acting President Choi Sang-Mok ordered a full mobilisation of rescue teams, instructing all related agencies to utilise every available resource to assist in the recovery efforts. Choi said, "All related agencies must mobilise all available resources to save the personnel."

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand also extended condolences to the families of those affected by the crash, confirming that two Thai nationals were among the passengers. She wrote on social media, “I have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide assistance immediately.”

Also Read: South Korea Plane Crash: What led to the Jeju Air disaster at Muan Airport?

Jeju Air, a leading low-cost carrier in South Korea, has maintained a generally strong safety record since its founding in 2005. The airline’s previous significant incident occurred in 2007 when a Bombardier Q400 aircraft veered off the runway at Busan-Gimhae Airport due to strong winds. While the event resulted in several injuries, no fatalities were reported. The crash on Sunday, however, marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters in South Korea in recent years.

The disaster also comes on the heels of another fatal aviation accident in Kazakhstan, where an Azerbaijan Airlines flight burst into flames, killing 38 people. The Kazakh government has suggested the possibility of “external interference” in that incident, although details remain scarce.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but initial reports point to a potential bird strike that led to the failure of the landing gear. Authorities at Muan Airport have been working closely with aviation safety experts to determine the exact cause of the crash. The tragedy has raised serious questions about aviation safety, particularly concerning bird strikes and their potential to affect landing gear systems.

This incident is one of the deadliest aviation disasters in South Korean history. The last major crash in the country occurred in 1997, when a Korean Airlines plane crashed in Guam, killing 228 people.

As the investigation continues and recovery efforts progress, the families of the victims are left grappling with the devastating aftermath of one of South Korea's worst aviation tragedies.