At dawn, a Jeju Air passenger aircraft crashed at Muan International Airport. Initial reports indicated 28 deaths, but the toll rose dramatically throughout the morning as rescue operations revealed the extent of the disaster. By noon, authorities confirmed 179 fatalities among the 181 passengers and crew, with only two crew members surviving. The aircraft reportedly attempted a belly landing after a possible bird strike, hitting an airport wall at approximately 200km/h.
Control tower recordings revealed warnings about bird activity before the crash. The incident becomes South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster. Jeju Air, which had been expanding its Japan-Korea routes, issued an apology while maintaining there were no prior mechanical issues with the aircraft.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani announced his wife's pregnancy through social media, while US Steel criticized union opposition to its acquisition by Nippon Steel.