At least 120 dead in a plane crash in South Korea

More than a hundred people have died this Sunday—early morning in Spain—in South Korea after a plane veered off the runway and crashed into the fence of Muan International Airport, 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul, according to a spokesperson for the national fire agency cited by Yonhap news agency.

According to initial reports, emergency teams dispatched to the area have managed to rescue at least two people alive, although they continue to search for survivors despite the poor condition of the aircraft.

The plane, arriving from the capital of Thailand, landed after 9 a.m. South Korean time. However, a video shows how the Boeing 737-800 of Jeju Air with 181 people on board skids along the runway without landing gear before crashing into a wall in a burst of flames and debris. According to local media, the fire lasted 40 minutes until it was brought under control by firefighters.

Unnamed airport sources told the South Korean agency Yonhap that the plane was supposed to land at 8:30 at Muan International Airport but had to abort its first attempt due to landing gear problems apparently caused by a bird strike.

The South Korean airline Jeju Air has issued a statement on its website apologising for the accident. "We bow our heads in apology to everyone who has suffered from the accident. We will do everything possible to resolve the situation," it reads. Meanwhile, Boeing has said it is in contact with the airline and has extended its condolences to the families of the victims.