Acting president announces week-long period of national mourning following Muan plane crash

Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Sunday declared a week-long national mourning period following the tragic Muan plane crash that claimed nearly 180 lives, marking South Korea’s worst domestic air disaster. South to this day.

“Starting today, the government has designated a seven-day national mourning period until midnight on January 4,” Choi announced Sunday evening at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Countermeasures Headquarters. security measures held in Seoul. It was the third such meeting to address the fatal accident that occurred earlier in the day when a Jeju Air flight attempting to land veered off the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea’s Muan Province. South Jeolla, and caught fire.

During the mourning period, joint memorial altars will be erected at the crash site and in 17 cities and provinces, including South Jeolla, Gwangju, Seoul and Sejong, according to the government. Flags will fly at half-mast in all ministries, local governments and public institutions, while civil servants will wear mourning ribbons as a sign of respect.

“As the acting head of a government responsible for the security and lives of its citizens, I am overwhelmed with indescribable sorrow and regret,” said Choi, who is also finance minister and deputy prime minister. of the country.

He also declared Muan County a special disaster area and pledged comprehensive support to those affected. An integrated support center will be set up at the accident site to streamline and coordinate assistance to bereaved families.

Each family will be assigned a dedicated public official to provide personalized support, while a forensic team will be stationed at Muan Airport to expedite the identification of victims.

At around 9 a.m. on Sunday, the pilots of Jeju Air Flight 7C 2216, alerted to a potential bird strike, signaled Mayday and attempted an emergency “belly landing” after they were unable to deploy the aircraft’s landing gear. The plane overshot the runway and crashed into the perimeter fence. Its fuselage was completely destroyed in the ensuing fire.

As of 9:03 p.m., 179 of the 181 people on board were confirmed dead, with only two crew members surviving the accident.