Death toll in South Korean plane crash rises to 179, all but two passengers and crew killed, New York Times reportedThis was reported by a fire department official at Muan International Airport.
The Times reported that all passengers and crew were found safe as of Sunday evening local time, after two survivors were recovered from the wreckage early Sunday.
A Boeing 737-800 operated by South Korea's Jeju Air departed from Bangkok, Thailand, and arrived at Muan International Airport around 9 a.m. local time on Sunday.
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism held a press conference on Sunday afternoon and reported that the control tower issued a warning to nearby birds just before landing. The pilot then called for a “mayday” signal, and minutes later the plane burst into flames.
According to Yonhap News, one of the surviving crew members said in an eyewitness report that “we believe it was a bird strike. Smoke came out of one of the engines and it exploded.''
Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 had 181 people on board, including 175 passengers, four flight attendants, and two pilots. According to Yonhap News, both of the survivors were crew members who were rescued from the back of the plane during the initial search.
On Sunday, families and loved ones of the plane's passengers flooded the airport, waiting for answers.
