Zelenskyy offers condolences to South Korea after deadly plane crash

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his condolences following the devastating plane crash in South Korea, which claimed the lives of over 100 people.

"A tragic news of the terrible Jeju Air plane crash at Muan International Airport in Muan County, Republic of Korea, which has taken so many lives. Every life lost is an immeasurable tragedy," Zelenskyy said commenting on the tragedy on his X account, per Caliber.Az.

He extended his sympathies to the families of the victims, the people of South Korea, and Acting President Choi Sang Mok.

대한민국 무안군 무안 국제공항에서 발생한 제주항공의 비극적인 사고로 귀중한 생명이 희생되었습니다.
한 명 한 명의 목숨을 잃는 것은 헤아릴 수 없는 비극입니다.

저와 우크라이나 국민을 대표하여 희상자 가족들과 대한민국 국민, 그리고 최상목 대통령 권한대행께 진심으로 애도를 표합니다.…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 29, 2024

"We share your grief and stand side by side with the Korean people during this sorrowful time," Zelenskyy added.

The disaster has shocked South Korea and drawn condolences from leaders worldwide, highlighting the profound human cost of such incidents.

To recall, earlier today, on December 29, South Korean media reported that at least 122 people died and two were rescued after a Jeju Air passenger jet carrying 181 people erupted in flames as it went off the runway and hit a wall at an airport in South Korea's southwestern county of Muan. 

The accident happened at 9:07 a.m., when the Jeju Air flight veered off the runway while landing and collided with a fence wall at Muan International Airport in Muan county, South Jeolla Province, about 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul.

Except for the two rescued from the accident, everyone aboard is presumed to have been killed, firefighting authorities said, adding that they were switching to search operations to recover bodies.

By Khagan Isayev