A Jeju Air plane veered off the runway in South Korea and collided with a fence, killing at least 23 passengers, Yonhap news agency reported.

The authorities attributed the devastating crash to a defective 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 on Sunday morning local time at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province.

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Firefighters carry out firefighting operations on an out-of-control aircraft at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, Dec. 29. (Yonhap via Reuters)

Firefighters carry out firefighting operations on an out-of-control aircraft at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, Dec. 29. (Yonhap via Reuters)

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

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The plane was flying from Thailand back to South Korea, the report said.

Photos shared by local media showed smoke rising from the plane.