SPOTLIGHT 24/12/29 Pope prays for families of South Korean plane crash victims

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Pope prays for families of South Korean plane crash victims

The plane crash in South Korea killed 179 people allegedly after a landing gear failure led to crash landing 

Pope Francis. (Photo: UCAN Files)

By OSV News

Published: December 30, 2024 05:25 AM GMT

Updated: December 30, 2024 08:04 AM GMT

Pope Francis prayed for the families of 179 people who died in a plane crash on Dec. 29 in South Korea.

"My thoughts turn to the many families in South Korea who are mourning today following the dramatic air accident," the pope said.The crash at Muan airport, some 290 kilometers south of Seoul, killed all on board except two flight attendants.

The passenger plane arriving from Bangkok exploded after skidding off the runway, crashing into a concrete fence.The suspected cause of the crash was a failure of its front landing gear to deploy. The incident is one of the worst aviation disasters in South Korea's history.During his Angelus prayer on Dec. 29, the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis said: "I join in prayer for the survivors and for the departed. Let us pray."The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, reportedly 15 years old, was operated by Jeju Air and crashed at 9:03 a.m. local time, killing 179 people, including 85 women, 84 men, and 10 whose genders were not immediately confirmed, The Associated Press reported.Emergency crews managed to rescue two crew members, who were conscious and not in critical condition. The passengers were all South Koreans but two Thais.

Lee Jeong-hyeon, chief of Muan's fire station, stated that the plane was destroyed, with only the tail section remaining intact.Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, including the possibility of a bird strike. Over 1,570 emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene.Families waiting for their loved ones were seen grieving and devastated at the airport as officials were announcing the names of those who died in the crash.