South Korea news LIVE: Plane crash death toll rises to 151; Jeju Air CEO says ‘I take full responsibility’

South Korea news LIVE: A Jeju Air flight 7C2216 carrying 175 passengers and six flight attendants drove off the runway and crashed into a wall at Muan International Airport in South Korea, the Yonhap news agency has reported. The flight was returning from Thailand to South Korea's Muan International Airport.

Catch LIVE Updates on the Jeju Air plane plane crash here

3:00 pm German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shares condolence message

"We have received terrible news of a plane crash in South Korea with many fatalities. Our condolences go out to the families of those killed in the crash and we wish the injured a speedy recovery," he wrote in a post on social media platform X.

2: 30 pm: Crash tests acting president two days into job

South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok arrived at the scene of the deadliest air disaster on the country's soil on Sunday — less than 48 hours after he took over the top job. The finance minister had become acting leader on Friday night after the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The latter had been acting president since President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and suspended from power on December 14 following his short-lived attempt to impose martial law.

1.45 pm ‘Don’t know what’s going on…’ Relative of a victim

One relative stood at a microphone to ask for more information from authorities. "My older brother died and I don’t know what’s going on," he said. "I don’t know."

1.30 pm Plane crash death toll rises to 127

At least 127 people were killed when an airliner belly-landed and veered off the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at South Korea's Muan International Airport on Sunday, the national fire agency said.

12.50 pm: Passenger texts relative ahead of crash, ‘Should I say my last words?’

A passenger texted a relative to say a bird was stuck in the wing, the News1 agency reported. The person's final message was, "Should I say my last words?"

12.14 pm: Death toll rises to 124

At least 124 people were killed when an airliner landed without wheels, veering off the runway and erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at South Korea's Muan International Airport on Sunday, the national fire agency said.

12.00 pm: "I take full responsibility": Jeju Air CEO

Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae issued a statement expressing regret and offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, according to Yonhap News Agency. "Regardless of the cause, I take full responsibility as the CEO," Kim said.

11.30 am: Death toll rises to 120

The death toll from a plane crash at a South Korean airport has risen to 120, according to reports from fire officials, as cited by Associated Press.

11.10 am Death toll rises to 96

Ninty-six people are confirmed dead, the fire department said. "So far, two people rescued -- both are flight attendants -- 96 dead, fire department said as quoted by AFP.

10:47 am Jeju Air CEO says cause of crash unclear, airline to fully cooperate'

The CEO of Jeju Air while speaking on Live Tv said that the cause of the plane crash are still unclear, adding that it will fully cooperate with the government in investigating the cause of the crash.

10:13 am Most of 181 people on board presumed dead

News agency Yonhap, citing local fire authorities reported that most of the 181 people aboard the plane that crashed are believed to have died.

10:00 am Deadliest disasters in South Korea’s aviation history

The last time South Korea suffered a large-scale air disaster was in 1997, when an Korean Airline plane crashed in Guam, killing 228 people on board.

9:30 pm Thailand's prime minister express condolences

Thailand's prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed deep condolences and wrote, “I would like to express my condolences to the families of the deceased and injured. I have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to urgently investigate whether there are any Thai passengers on this plane and what the current situation is. I have ordered immediate assistance. If there are Thai passengers, please contact their families to inform them of the progress and have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs report the situation at all times.”

9.00 am: 85 confirmed dead in crash

South Korea plane crash death toll increases to 85, says South Korea Fire Agency

8:45 am: 62 confirmed dead in South Korea Plane Crash

A tragic plane crash in South Korea has claimed the lives of 62 people, according to the National Fire Agency.

8.16 am: All domestic, International flights cancelled

All domestic and international flights at Muan airport have been cancelled following the plane crash, Yonhap stated as reported by Reuters.

8 am: Death toll rises to 47

The death toll from the plane crash at Muan Airport in South Korea has increased to 47, according to Yonhap, citing fire authorities.

7.40 am: Two Thai nationals aboard plane that crashed in South Korea, says Transport Ministry

Two Thai nationals were among the 175 passengers, as well as six crew members, on board the airliner that crashed on Sunday at South Korea's Muan International Airport, South Korea's transport ministry said.

7.30 am: Death toll rises to 29

"We have so far confirmed 29 deaths from the crash... but the tally could rise due to the critically injured," said Lee Hyeon-ji, a local fire department official, revising a previous casualty figure provided by authorities as quoted by AFP.

7:17 am: Korea Plane Crash Video: Crash goes viral on social media | Watch

A video released by local media showed the twin-engine aircraft sliding down the runway without visible landing gear before crashing into a wall, causing a burst of flames and debris. Additional photos captured smoke and fire spreading across parts of the plane.

7:00 am: Death toll at 28

At least 28 people are confirmed dead following the crash, the Yonhap news agency report stated. Citing Muan Fire Station, Associated Press reported that it couldn't immediately confirm the casualty reports. It said emergency workers pulled out at least two passengers.

6.58 am: What caused the crash of Jeju Air plane?

The crash is believed to have been caused by "bird contact, leading to a malfunction in the landing gear" as the plane tried to land at the airport in southwestern South Korea, according to Yonhap.

Meawnhile, this tragic crash comes just days after Azerbaijan Airlines en route from Baku to Russia, encountered difficulties while attempting to land in dense fog. After two unsuccessful landing attempts, the captain diverted the aircraft toward Kazakhstan but tragically crashed while attempting to land in Aktau. The crash resulted in 38 fatalities, with 29 survivors left injured.

(With inputs from agencies)