At least 62 lives were lost when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, veered off the runway and crashed into a barrier at South Korea’s Muan International Airport.

Video footage captured the aircraft skidding uncontrollably on the tarmac before colliding with a concrete wall at high speed, erupting in flames. The impact scattered parts of the plane’s fuselage into the air, creating a dramatic scene.

The accident occurred around 9 a.m. local time on Sunday, shortly after the flight from Bangkok attempted to land. Heavy plumes of smoke billowed as flames engulfed sections of the plane.

Emergency responders, including 32 fire engines and numerous firefighters, rushed to the site. Initial reports revealed two survivors—a passenger and a crew member—rescued from the wreckage, with efforts ongoing. Authorities coordinated with hospitals in nearby Gwangju to handle the casualties.

Early investigations suggest a bird strike may have damaged the landing gear, forcing a second landing attempt. Jeju Air confirmed it is probing the incident’s cause and impact.

Most passengers were South Korean nationals, along with two Thai citizens. The route, launched just weeks ago, was part of a broader expansion of Muan Airport.

South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, ordered full mobilization of rescue teams and visited the crash site, marking his first major test in office.

Jeju Air, founded in 2005, had no prior fatal accidents.