A fatal plane crash in South Korea on Sunday was the sixth major airline crash of 2024.
A Boeing 737 plane, flying for Jeju Air, crashed in Muan International Airport and burst into flames, killing everyone on board except for two crew members.
The South Korean government has since said it will conduct a safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft used by domestic airlines following the crash.
The incident on Sunday followed six other major crashes this year across the globe in Japan, Russia, Nepal, Brazil and Azerbaijan, which the map below shows.
Why It Matters
The tragic aviation accidents worldwide this year have sparked discussions on improving aviation safety, and in some countries, like South Korea, the crashes have prompted governments to start investigating the safety regulations carried out by domestic airlines.
When it comes to Boeing, its planes have been involved in series of quality control incidents—most notably the mid-air blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight in January 2024.
What To Know
Days before the fatal crash in South Korea, a plane crash happened in Azerbaijan on December 25.
An Embraer 190 Azerbaijan Airlines plane was carrying 67 people from the country’s capital, Baku, to Grozny, near the Kazakh Caspian city of Aktau. Of those on board, 42 were killed.
Brazil experienced what one of its worst aviation disasters on August 9 when a Voepass airline ATR-72 crashed near Vinhedo in São Paulo on a journey from Cascavel to Guarulhos. The plane crashed close to a residential area and killed all four crew members and 58 passengers.
A Saurya Airlines plane crashed in Nepal on July 24 during takeoff from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Of the 19 people on board the Bombardier CRJ200, 18 were killed. The pilot was the only one who survived.
On January 24, a Russian Ilyushin Il-76M transport aircraft crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region, killing all 74 people on board. The victims included 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
And on January 2, two Japanese aircrafts collided on the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. When the Japan Airlines Airbus A350 and the Japan Coast Guard aircraft crashed, the 379 passengers on the commercial plane were safely evacuated, but five crew members on the Coast Guard plane were killed.
What People Are Saying
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, speaking at the crash site: “No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy.”
Boeing, in a previous statement to Newsweek: “We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a press conference following the fatal Embraer 190 crash: “The information provided to me is that the plane changed its course between Baku and Grozny due to worsening weather conditions and headed to Aktau airport, where it crashed upon landing.”
Embraer, Brazilian aviation company, in a statement on the Azerbaijan Airlines crash: “We are deeply saddened by the occurrence involving an Embraer 190 today near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones affected by this incident. We are closely monitoring the situation and remain fully committed to supporting the relevant authorities.”
What Happens Next
For the most recent airline crash in South Korea, it has been reported that the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will participate in the investigation.
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Map Shows Which Countries Had Major Airline Crashes in 2024
