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By, Onome Jackson.
A Jeju Air passenger plane with 181 persons aboard burst into flames on the ground early Sunday morning in South Korea.
The incident occurred in Muan, which lies about 290 kilometers from Seoul, the country’s capital city.
The plane as a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet returning from Bangkok in Thailand, with two Thai nationals on board.
About 179 persons have so far been confirmed dead, with the death toll expected to rise, officials said.
The plane had skid off the runway before ramming into a concrete fence when its front landing gear apparently failed to deploy.
Rescue workers are still searching for bodies strewn across the airport as thick, black smoke billows from the wreckage.
Chief of Muan fire station, Lee Jeong-hyeon, said the plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail assembly remaining recognisable among the wreckage.
“There was a loud bang followed by smoke in the air, and then I heard a series of explosions.”
In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Federal Government conveyed its condolences to the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with South Korea during this difficult time
The Nigerian government described the crash as a tragic loss and reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for the South Korean people.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to express her sincere condolences to the Government and People of the Republic of Korea for the unfortunate crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 that occurred on Sunday, December 29th, 2024.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria sympathises with the Government of South Korea and the families of the victims of the deadly plane crash,” the statement read.
