124 dead as passenger plane skids off runway, catches fire

A Jeju Air passenger plane with 180 people on board burst into flames early Sunday morning in South Korea, resulting in at least 124 confirmed fatalities.

The incident occurred at Muan, located approximately 290 kilometers south of Seoul, the capital city.

The aircraft involved was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet, which had been returning from Bangkok, Thailand, and was carrying two Thai nationals among its passengers.

According to officials, the plane failed to deploy its front landing gear, causing it to skid off the runway and crash into a concrete fence.

The impact of the crash caused the plane to catch fire, and thick, black smoke poured from the wreckage as rescue operations continued throughout the day.

The death toll, which currently stands at 124, is expected to rise, as authorities continue to search through the wreckage. Among the dead, there are reports of 57 women, 54 men, and others whose gender has not yet been identified.

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Lee Jeong-hyeon, the chief of Muan fire station, confirmed the plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail section of the aircraft remaining recognizable.

Rescue workers have been sifting through the debris at the scene, combing through the bodies scattered across the airport grounds.

Emergency response teams have been working around the clock, attempting to identify victims and recover bodies from the wreckage.

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Authorities have stated that the priority remains on rescue efforts as the cause of the crash is investigated.