Plane veers off airport runway in South Korea and crashes, killing at least 85: reports

A Jeju Air flight drove off the runway in South Korea and collided with a fence, leaving at least 85 passengers dead, the Associated Press reported.

The Yonhap News Agency attributed the devastating crash to malfunctioning landing gear.

Jeju Air, a low-cost airline in South Korea, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members in the Boeing 737-800 when the incident occurred Sunday morning local time at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, roughly 180 miles south of Seoul.

RUSSIA DOWNPLAYS SPECULATION OVER DEADLY AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES CRASH AS REPORT LAYS BLAME FOR DOWNED PLANE 

Firefighters carry out extinguishing operations on an aircraft which drove off runaway at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on Dec. 29. (Yonhap via Reuters)

Firefighters carry out extinguishing operations on an aircraft which drove off runaway at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on Dec. 29. (Yonhap via Reuters)

The plane landed at 9:07 a.m. local time at the airport when the incident happened. 

According to the Associated Press, the passenger plane slammed into a concrete fence on the runway after its front landing gear failed to deploy. 

The National Fire Agency said officials were still trying to pull people from the wreckage.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The plane was flying back to South Korea from Thailand, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

Photos shared by local media showed smoke billowing out of the plane.