Jetliner Crash in South Korea: 179 Dead After Failed Landing
A deadly plane crash occurred in South Korea on Sunday when a Jeju Air jetliner skidded off the runway, hit a concrete fence, and burst into flames. The plane, a Boeing 737-800, failed to deploy its landing gear, resulting in the tragic death of 179 people out of 181 passengers and crew on board. Only two survivors, both crew members, were rescued from the wreckage.
Details of the Crash
The flight, which arrived from Bangkok, was attempting to land at Muan Airport, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul, when the disaster occurred. South Korean television footage showed the plane racing down the runway without its landing gear extended. The aircraft crashed into a concrete wall, causing a massive explosion and thick black smoke.
The South Korean fire agency confirmed that 179 people died in the crash. Emergency responders saved two crew members who appeared to have minor injuries. Lee Jeong-hyeon, the head of Muan’s fire station, described the plane as being completely destroyed, with only the tail section identifiable in the wreckage. Investigators are looking into the cause of the crash, including the possibility of a bird strike.
Bird Strike and Failed Landing Gear
Before the crash, the control tower warned the pilots about birds in the area. Shortly after, the crew reported a bird strike and declared an emergency. They were cleared to land on a different runway. However, the landing gear failed to deploy, and the plane was unable to slow down, leading to the crash.
Video footage of the crash suggested that the plane’s undercarriage did not fully deploy, which is extremely rare. Aviation experts believe that this might have been due to a hydraulic failure or a similar issue. Investigators recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, which will be analyzed to determine the cause of the disaster.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and it may take several months to conclude. The flight’s black boxes are being examined, and U.S. experts from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are assisting South Korean authorities in the investigation.
South Korea’s transport ministry confirmed that the plane’s head pilot had around 6,800 hours of flight experience, and the aircraft had been maintained properly. The ministry has ordered inspections of all Boeing 737-800 planes in the country, focusing on their maintenance records, especially the landing gear and engine.
National Mourning and Family Reactions
The crash has deeply shaken the nation, with South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, declaring seven days of national mourning. A public memorial has been set up in Muan, where mourners are laying flowers and candles in honor of the victims.
At Muan International Airport, grieving family members waited anxiously as the names of the victims were released. So far, 146 victims have been identified, and efforts are underway to identify the remaining bodies. Some relatives expressed their heartbreak, while others called for more information from the authorities.
Emotional Impact on Families
Among the victims were two Thai nationals, along with South Korean citizens. One Thai father, Boonchuay Duangmanee, expressed his shock after learning that his daughter, Jongluk, had been on the flight. “I never thought this would be the last time I would see her,” he said.
Another father, Jeon Je-Young, spoke about his daughter, Jeon Mi-Sook, who was on the flight. He explained that she was about to return home and likely did not have time to make a final call. “She thought she was coming home. But the damage had already been done.”
This tragic crash has left families devastated and raised many questions about what went wrong. Investigations continue, and authorities are committed to finding out the full cause of the accident while ensuring the safety of future flights. The victims’ families remain in mourning as the country grapples with one of its worst aviation disasters in nearly 30 years.
Also read: Craig Conover and Paige DeSorbo have decided to separate after three years of dating