After the plane crash in South Korea with numerous fatalities, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier sent a condolence letter to interim President Choi Sang-mok of South Korea.
“The news of the devastating plane crash in Muan, where so many people lost their lives, has deeply shocked me” the German President writes. “This is a sad day for South Korea and for all those who care about the country and its people.”
The German head of state referred to the fact that South Korea is currently going through a “difficult time.” The plane crash is an additional blow to the nation. “As long-standing partners and friendly democracies, we feel closely connected to the Korean people and stand firmly by the side of Korea in these challenging times” Steinmeier said.
The ill-fated aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 of Jeju Air with 175 passengers and six crew members on board, took off in Bangkok, Thailand, and made a crash landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday morning. So far, 177 fatalities have been officially confirmed. Two crew members survived the disaster, and two people are still missing. It is, however, highly likely that there will be only two survivors.
Apparently, the plane attempted to land without its landing gear extended. The aircraft then slid along the ground and crashed into a concrete wall before bursting into flames. Many passengers were thrown out of the plane during the impact. The authorities believe that the failure of the landing gear may have been caused by a bird strike, and investigations have been launched accordingly.