U.S. President Joe Biden answers a question from the press as he exits Holy Cross Catholic Church after attending mass in Christiansted, St. Croix, on the U.S. Virgin Islands, on Dec. 28, during a week-long vacation on the island. AFP-Yonhap

U.S. President Joe Biden said Sunday that he and first lady Jill Biden are "deeply saddened" to learn of the loss of life in a deadly plane crash in Korea, while pledging to provide any necessary assistance.

Biden issued a statement after the Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people belly-landed and exploded at an airport in the country's southwestern county of Muan on Sunday morning (Korea time), killing 179 with two others having been rescued.

"Jill and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life that occurred as a result of the Jeju Airlines accident in Muan, Republic of Korea," the president said in a statement.

"As close allies, the American people share deep bonds of friendship with the South Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy. The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance," he added.

The deadliest aviation accident ever on South Korean soil happened when the Jeju Air plane, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, veered off the runway while landing at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, about 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul.

The plane skidded along the ground without its landing gear deployed, crashing into a concrete wall before bursting into flames with a deafening explosion. (Yonhap)