Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
December 30 , 2024
Seoul - A new video has emerged, capturing mysterious drones flying in close proximity to Jeju Air Flight 2216 moments before its tragic crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea. The footage, which has gone viral on social media platforms, adds a perplexing element to the ongoing investigation of the disaster that claimed 179 lives.
The video appears to show multiple unidentified flying objects, presumed to be drones, circling the Boeing 737-800 as it approached the runway. Eyewitnesses report seeing the aircraft veer off course shortly after the drone encounter, ultimately resulting in a catastrophic belly landing and subsequent explosion.
While initial reports suggested a bird strike or deteriorating weather conditions as potential factors, the emergence of this new footage has prompted investigators to broaden their scope. Aviation experts are now considering whether the presence of drones may have interfered with the plane's systems or distracted the pilots during the critical landing phase.
South Korean authorities have yet to comment officially on the drone footage. However, the National Fire Agency spokesperson confirmed that the plane deviated from the runway and burst into flames upon impact. Emergency responders managed to rescue two crew members, but the majority of the 181 people on board perished in the crash.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the global aviation community, raising concerns about the potential risks posed by unauthorized drones near airports. Aviation safety experts are calling for increased measures to detect and prevent drone activity in restricted airspace.
Copyright © 2026. All rights reserved.