Iran extends condolences to South Korea and Thailand following a fatal plane crash
The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry has conveyed Tehran's heartfelt condolences to both South Korea and Thailand following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of at least 167 individuals. The disaster occurred when a passenger aircraft caught fire after veering off the runway and crashing at an airport in Muan City, South Korea.
On Sunday, Esmaeil Baghaei issued a statement expressing Iran’s condolences and sympathies to the governments and citizens of South Korea and Thailand, extending a particular message of support to the families affected by the crash. Baghaei also wished for the swift recovery of those injured in the unfortunate event.
In a statement from South Korea’s National Fire Agency, it was reported that an incident took place on Sunday at 9:03 a.m. local time (0003 GMT) involving a Jeju Air flight. The aircraft, which had 175 passengers and six crew members on board, was arriving from Bangkok, Thailand. The event occurred as the plane was landing at Muan International Airport, situated approximately 289 kilometers (179 miles) southwest of Seoul.
A 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 aircraft was reported to be transporting a total of passengers, with two identified as Thai nationals and the remainder believed to be of South Korean origin.
Two crew members have been successfully rescued, while authorities indicate that the remaining individuals are believed to have perished.
In a press briefing, Muan’s fire chief, Lee Jung-hyun, confirmed the successful rescue of two crew members, a man and a woman, from the tail section of an aircraft that caught fire. The blaze, which had enveloped the aircraft, has now been extinguished.
“The tail section is the only part that retains some recognizable form, while the remainder of the aircraft is virtually unidentifiable,” he stated.
Lee announced that authorities have transitioned their efforts from rescue to recovery operations. Due to the severity of the impact, search teams are examining surrounding areas for any bodies that may have been ejected from the aircraft.
In the wake of the tragic crash, family members convened in the airport’s arrival hall, visibly emotional as tears were shed and embraces exchanged. Meanwhile, Red Cross volunteers were on hand to provide comfort, distributing blankets to the grieving relatives.
Heart-wrenching cries and tears filled the room as a medical professional solemnly read out the names of 22 victims identified through fingerprint analysis. Documents were passed around, prompting families to provide their contact information.
According to a report from South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, it is suspected that the aircraft crash was triggered by “bird strikes, leading to a malfunction of the landing gear” during its landing approach at the airport.
