A plane with malfunctioning landing gear veered off the runway, hit a fence and caught fire Sunday at an airport in southern South Korea, according to the emergency office and local media.
South Korean media reported the fire left more than 20 people either dead or injured, but the emergency office said it couldn’t immediately confirm the reported casualties. It said two people were evacuated to safety.
The office said the fire was put out and rescue officials were trying to remove passengers from the Jeju Air passenger plane at the airport in the South Korean city of Muan. It said the plane with about 180 people was returning from Bangkok.
Yonhap via REUTERS
Yonhap news agency reported the plane veered off the runway and collided with a fence. Emergency officials said they were examining the exact cause of the fire.
Local TV stations aired footage showing thick pillows of black smoke billowing from the plane engulfed with flame.
According to Reuters, acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok has ordered a full rescue response, his office said. Choi only became acting president Friday, replacing the previous acting President Han Duck-soo following Han’s impeachment. It all comes in the wake of the government crisis caused by the Dec. 3 martial law declaration from former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
