SEOUL, Dec. 29 (CNA) - An aircraft drove off the runway and crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea, killing 28 passengers, the Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday (Dec 29).

The Jeju Air plane, which was carrying 175 passengers and six flight attendants, was flying back from Thailand and the accident took place while it was landing, the report said. The airport is in southern South Korea.

Two people were found alive as the rescue mission was continuing, according to Yonhap.

Rescue authorities were evacuating passengers from the rear section of the jet, the news agency reported, citing the fire department.

The crash is believed to have been caused by "contact with birds, resulting in malfunctioning landing gear" as the plane attempted to land.
Photos shared by local media showed smoke coming out of the plane.

A photo showed the tail section of the jet engulfed in flames on what appeared to be the side of the runway, with firefighters and emergency vehicles nearby.

Acting President Choi Sung-mok, who was named interim leader of the country on Friday after the previous acting president was impeached amid an ongoing political crisis, ordered all-out rescue efforts, his office said.

A Jeju Air spokesperson said the airline was checking the reports.