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What is known about plane crash in South Korea

© Lee Young-ju/Newsis via AP

SEOUL, December 29. /TASS/. The Jeju Air plane that crashed at South Korea's Muan International Airport sounded an alarm one minute after warning of the danger of a collision with birds. The crash occurred minutes later, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported, citing South Korean authorities.

There were 175 passengers (173 South Koreans and two Thais) and six crew members on board. South Korean authorities believe that all but two survivors were killed. The number of confirmed victims of the plane crash in South Korea has risen to 167.

TASS has compiled the main information about the incident.

Details of accident

- The incident occurred on Saturday at around 9:30 p.m. local time (around 2:30 a.m. GMT on Sunday).

- The plane crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea's Jeollanam-do province, with 175 passengers and six crew members on board.

- It sounded the alarm a minute after warning of a bird collision hazard. The crash occurred minutes later, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported, citing South Korean authorities.

- Most of the passengers on the crashed plane were South Korean citizens, only two were Thai nationals.

- The Boeing 737-800 (737-8AS) aircraft was manufactured in August 2009, the Newsis news agency reported.

- The plane was considered "relatively new," the news agency said. The company had a total of 39 such planes as of September 2023.

Information on fatalities

- South Korean authorities believe all but two of the plane's survivors have been killed.

- The number of confirmed victims in the plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea has risen to 167, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Causes

- According to preliminary reports, the crash was due to a landing gear malfunction caused by a collision with birds. The crew tried to land the plane on its fuselage, but the plane was unable to slow down and hit the wall at the end of the runway, catching fire.

Reaction

- Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the crash in South Korea's Jeollanam-do province and ordered assistance to any Thai survivors.

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