Witnesses heard explosions before plane crash in South Korea

seoul - Eyewitnesses report seeing flames in the engine of the crashed plane and hearing multiple explosions before the crash occurred in South Korea.

Eyewitnesses of the deadly plane crash in the South Korean province of Muan reported seeing flames in the engine of the aircraft and hearing multiple explosions before the plane crashed.

According to the fire department, at least 167 people have died. Two people, both crew members, were rescued alive from the plane wreckage. They are believed to be the only survivors of the 181 people on board. Most parts of the plane, except for the tail, have been severely burned and destroyed. The plane, operated by Korean airline Jeju Air, was en route from the Thai capital Bangkok to Muan airport. Video footage from South Korean news channels shows the plane landing without extending its landing gear, crashing into a wall at high speed, and catching fire.

Eyewitnesses observed the plane attempting to land initially, accompanied by sounds of explosions. The aircraft circled the airport to attempt another landing, but deviated from the runway. "I saw a spark on the right wing of the plane," said Yoo Jae-yong (41), who lives near the airport, to Yonhap. Yoo had alerted his family of an issue with the plane when he heard a loud explosion.

Cho, another witness, was walking near the airport when the crash occurred. "I saw the plane descending. As the aircraft was about to land, I saw a flash of light." The walker then heard a loud bang, followed by smoke in the air and a series of explosions.

The crash is believed to have been caused by a collision with birds, leading to malfunctioning landing gear, and unfavorable weather conditions. Over seven hundred police, military, and coast guard personnel have been deployed. Rescue workers will first retrieve the bodies of victims, followed by a search for the plane's black box to gather flight data and determine what happened, according to the Ministry of Transport.

This is the deadliest air accident involving a South Korean airline since the 1997 crash in Guam, which resulted in 228 fatalities. South Korea's acting president has designated the location of the plane crash in Muan as a special disaster area. He has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the disaster.

The presidential office held an emergency meeting to discuss the crash and report it to acting president Choi Sang-mok. Presidential office staff are currently assisting the acting president in managing state affairs.

Choi has only been in office for a few days as acting president and is immediately faced with various crises. He had promised to focus on restoring national stability as the country grapples with political turmoil. Former acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo was removed from office on Friday. It was the first time in South Korea's history that the parliament voted to impeach an acting president. This action followed a majority vote for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol a week and a half prior.