South Korean authorities say at least 179 people died when a passenger plane burst into flames Sunday after skidding off a runway and slamming into a concrete fence.
Initial reports indicate the plane’s landing gear failed to deploy when the Jeju Air jet was landing in Muan, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul. The plane, carrying 181 people, was returning from Bangkok.
It is one of the deadliest aviation disasters ever in South Korea.
"Of the 179 dead, 65 have been identified," South Korea’s fire agency said.
Two people, both crew members, were pulled out of the wreckage alive.
In photos: South Korea plane crash
Video footage aired on South Korean television shows the Boeing 737-800 speeding across the runway at a high speed and colliding with a concrete barrier, causing a fiery explosion.
Dozens of fire trucks were deployed to try to put out the blaze.
"Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of looks almost impossible to recognize," Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun told reporters as he described what was left of the plane.
Lee added that investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors in the incident.
Transport Ministry official Joo Jong wan said the flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been retrieved.
Sunday’s crash was the worst aviation disaster involving a South Korean airline since 1997, when a Korean Air jet went down in Guam, killing more than 200 people.
South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mo, who was named interim leader on Friday, held an emergency cabinet meeting before visiting the crash site.
"The entire government is working closely together to manage the aftermath of the accident... making every effort to ensure thorough support for the bereaved families," he said.
South Korea has declared a seven day period of national mourning following the crash.
Jeju Air issued an apology following Sunday’s deadly crash and promised to do its “utmost to manage the aftermath of the accident.”
Boeing said it was in touch with Jeju Air and was "ready to support them".
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew,” the company said in a statement.
Transport ministry officials said two Thai nationals were on board and the rest were believed to be South Koreans.
Officials in Thailand reported no issues with the plane when it left Bangkok.
Some information in this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
