Dozens killed in a passenger plane crash in South Korea

At least 62 people were killed in the crash of a passenger plane today (Sunday), with 181 people on board, as it landed at Muan Airport in southwestern South Korea, according to what Yonhap News Agency quoted the authorities as saying.

Smoke billows from a Jeju Airlines Boeing 737-800 after it crashed at Muan International Airport (AFP)
The agency said that “175 passengers and six crew members were on board the plane that crashed at Muan Airport,” noting that 62 deaths have been confirmed so far as a result of the accident.

She added that the accident resulted from “contact with birds, which led to a malfunction in the landing gear system” while the plane was trying to land at the airport.

Yonhap quoted the Fire Department as saying that rescue teams were trying to evacuate passengers from the back of the plane.

The Fire Department said in a statement: “So far, we have two survivors and 62 dead,” including 37 females and 25 males. The ill-fated plane was a Boeing 737-8AS, owned by Jeju Airlines, and was coming from Bangkok.