Dozens of people were killed as a result of a plane skidding off the runway in South Korea

A passenger plane skidded off the runway and caught fire at a South Korean airport on Sunday. The equipment failed to open, killing at least 62 people, officials said.

The National Fire Administration said the fire was almost out, but officials were still trying to evacuate people from the Jeju Air passenger plane, which was carrying 181 people, at an airport in the southern city of Muan.

According to the agency, at least 62 people died as a result of the fire.

Emergency personnel extracted two people – a passenger and a crew member. He said that 32 fire engines and several helicopters were involved to prevent the fire.

The footage of the accident broadcast by YTN television showed the Jeju Air plane crossing the runway and colliding head-on with a concrete wall outside the facility. The Ministry of Transport said that the incident happened at 9:03 am local time.

Emergency officials in Muan said they are investigating the cause of the fire. They said that it seems that the plane’s landing gear has malfunctioned. The Ministry of Transport said the plane had returned from Bangkok and two Thai nationals were among the passengers.

Local television broadcast footage showing the plane engulfed in flames with thick pillows and black smoke billowing from inside.

The incident comes as South Korea is embroiled in a major political crisis following the imposition and subsequent impeachment of then-President Yoon Suk-yeol. South Korean lawmakers impeached acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday, suspending his powers and forcing Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to take over.

According to Yonhap news agency, Choi ordered officials to use all possible resources to rescue the passengers and crew. Yoon’s office said his chief secretary, Chung Jin-suk, will chair an emergency meeting of the top presidential staff on Sunday to discuss the accident.