South Korea mourns 179 killed in air disaster
South Korean opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung consoled grieving families at Muan International airport after the country's deadliest air disaster killed 179 people.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when a Jeju Air 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at the airport, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall. Two crew members were pulled out alive.
South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country's entire airline operation system as investigators worked to identify victims and find out what caused the country's deadliest air disaster.
Also in an emergency meeting declared a national mourning period until January 4 over the plane crash at Muan International Airport.
Experts say many questions remain, including why the plane, powered by two CFM 56-7B26 engines, appeared to be traveling so fast and why its landing gear did not appear to be down when it skidded down the runway and into a wall.
Recovery efforts were underway after the crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216, the deadliest ever on South Korean soil.
179 people have died and two people were rescued of the 181 people in the plane that crashed at the Muan International Airport in South Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing rescue authorities.
South Korean officials said they were investigating the cause of the crash, including a possible bird strike, which killed almost all the 181 people on the aircraft.
It is the worst ever airline disaster on South Korean soil.
The twin-engine Boeing 737-800 was seen skidding down the runway at Muan International Airport, apparently without landing gear.
It slammed into a wall in an explosion of flames and debris.
South Korean authorities have said they are looking into "bird strikes" as the possible cause of the crash.
Boeing said it stood ready to support Jeju Air and that it extended its "deepest condolences" to the families who had lost loved ones.
