A plane veered off the runway, hit a fence and caught fire at an airport in southern South Korea, killing at least 28 people.
The country’s emergency office said the fire was almost put out and rescue officials were trying to remove passengers from the Jeju Air passenger plane at the airport in the southern city of Muan.
It said Sunday’s flight with about 180 people was returning from Bangkok.
Firefighters and rescue team members work at the Muan International Airport (Maeng Dae-hwan/Newsis/AP)
South Korean media outlets, including Yonhap news agency, reported that at least 28 people had died in the fire.
The Muan Fire Station said it could not immediately confirm the casualty reports. It said emergency workers pulled out at least two passengers.
Yonhap reported the plane, which was believed to have suffered malfunctioning landing gear, veered off the runway and collided with a fence. Emergency officials said they were examining the exact cause of the fire.
Local TV stations aired footage showing thick pillows of black smoke billowing from the plane engulfed with flame.
Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who assumed responsibility after the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol and acting President Han Duck-soo and suspended his duties, ordered officials to employ all available resources to rescue the passengers and crew, according to Yonhap news agency.