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At least 28 dead, 2 rescued in fiery plane crash in South Korea

by Reuters

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA --

   At least 28 people were killed when an airplane went off the runway and
   slammed into a wall at South Korea's Muan International Airport on
   Sunday, Yonhap news agency reported.

   The accident occurred as Jeju Air flight 7C2216, carrying 175
   passengers and six crew members on a flight from the Thai capital,
   Bangkok, was landing at the airport in the south of the country, the
   report said.

   Two people were found alive, and rescue operations were still under
   way, a Muan fire official said. The official could not confirm the
   reports of 28 dead.

   Authorities were working to rescue people in the tail section, an
   airport official told Reuters.

   Video shared by local media showed the twin-engine aircraft skidding
   down the runway with no apparent landing gear before slamming into a
   wall in an explosion of flame and debris. Other photos showed smoke and
   fire engulfing parts of the plane.

   Aviation tracking site FlightRadar24 said the aircraft appeared to be a
   Boeing 737-800. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for
   comment.

   The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to
   an email seeking comment.

   South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered all-out rescue
   efforts, his office said. He was named interim leader of the country on
   Friday after the previous acting president was impeached amid an
   ongoing political crisis.

   His chief of staff convened an emergency meeting.

   A Jeju Air spokesperson said the airline was checking the reports.

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