More than 2 dozen killed when passenger jet crashes while landing at South Korean airport

A plane burst into flames after veering off a runway at an airport in South Korea, killing at least 28 people on board, emergency officials said.

The fire engulfed the aircraft carrying 181 people when it skidded off the runway just after landing and struck a fence. The emergency office said its landing gear appeared to have malfunctioned.

The National Fire Agency said the fire was almost put out but officials were still trying to pull people from the Jeju Air passenger plane at the airport in the southern city of Muan.

The agency said at least 28 people had died in the fire. Emergency workers pulled out two people — one passenger and one crew member. It said it deployed 32 fire trucks and several helicopters to contain the fire.

Lee Hyeon-ji, a local fire department official, told the AFP the death toll had risen to 29, and indicated it could continue to increase. 

“We have so far confirmed 29 deaths from the crash…but the tally could rise due to the critically injured,” Lee told AFP. 

Yonhap news agency reported the plane collided with a fence after veering off the runway. Emergency officials said they were examining the cause of the fire. Local TV stations aired footage showing thick pillows of black smoke billowing from the plane engulfed with flames.

According to Reuters, acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an all-out 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, who was later impeached as well.