South Korea grieves deadliest aviation disaster, 179 die in plane crash

South Korea is battling its deadliest aviation disaster at a time of unprecedented political crisis. A Jeju Air flight carrying 181 passengers and crew crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, with 179 feared dead. The crash comes at a time of unprecedented political instability, with the nation’s leadership in disarray.

The ill-fated flight from Bangkok to South Korea caught fire after it crashed into a barrier during landing. Emergency responders said the plane skidded off the runway, crashing into a wall before bursting into flames. Officials believe a bird strike and extreme weather conditions could have caused the disaster. Video footage showed the aircraft landing on its belly, trailing smoke, before the explosion. Only two survivors, both flight attendants, were rescued, and at least 120 fatalities were confirmed by afternoon.

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Just days into his presidency, Acting President Choi Sang-mok declared the site a special disaster zone. He instructed emergency officials to use every available resource for recovery operations. Choi visited the site and vowed a full-scale investigation into the tragedy and support for victims and their families. “All resources are being mobilized, and we will leave no stone unturned in determining what went wrong,” he said.

The crisis further fuels South Korea’s leadership vacuum. President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on December 14 after declaring a controversial martial law. The acting president, who had initially replaced him as Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, has been removed from power by parliament. Choi remains as interim leader.

Yoon, suspended pending a Constitutional Court ruling, is charged with rebellion. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison or even death. The court will rule within six months, and that ruling may necessitate a by-election, further prolonging the political uncertainty.

As Asia’s fourth-largest economy grapples with this dual crisis, its once-stable democracy faces its greatest challenge in decades.