Jeju Air's chief executive said the airline will reduce its winter air traffic by up to 15 per cent and aim to secure trust following the death of 179 people in the plane crash.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when the Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport on Sunday, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into an embankment.
South Korean officials were joined by a US probe team and officials from Boeing as they ramped up the investigation on Tuesday into the cause of its deadliest domestic air accident as police scrambled to identify victims.
Officials have also faced pointed questions about design features at the airport, particularly a large dirt-and-concrete embankment near the end of the runway used to support navigation equipment.
Experts said it seemed unlikely a bird strike would have been the sole cause of the landing gear malfunctioning.
Meanwhile, families of the victims have been camping out at the airport as they demand answers.
Key Points
- Bird strike, concerete wall - Questions over South Korea’s deadliest plane crash
- Families camp out at airport demanding answers
- Another Jeju Air flight faces similar landing gear issue - report
- South Korea orders emergency air safety probe after Jeju Air crash
- Why was there a concrete wall at end of runway?
This live blog is now closed
15:35 , Tom WatlingThis live blog is now closed.
You can read more of our coverage here.
In pics: Wreckage of the Jeju Air flight
Monday 30 December 2024 04:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Another Jeju Air jet experiences landing-gear issue - report
Monday 30 December 2024 04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA Jeju Air aircraft that departed from Gimpo Airport in Seoul for Jeju today experienced an unidentified landing-gear issue after take-off and returned to Gimpo, Yonhap news agency reported.
The aircraft landed safely at the Gimpo airport, it added.
This comes a day after a Jeju Air flight crashed at the Muan international airport yesterday, killing all 175 passengers along with four crew members
.One of the survivors was being treated for fractures to his ribs, shoulder blade and upper spine, said Ju Woong, director of the Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital.
Ju said the man, whose name was not released, told doctors he “woke up to find (himself) rescued”. Details on the other survivor were not immediately available.
Keir Starmer pays tribute
Monday 30 December 2024 05:00 , Jabed AhmedSir Keir Starmer sent his “deepest condolences” to the victims of a plane crash in South Korea which killed 179 people.
“I send my deepest condolences to the victims and families of those who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash in Muan,” the Prime Minister said.
“I pay tribute to the work of the emergency responders and my thoughts are with the people of the Republic of Korea and Thailand at this terrible time.”
Watch: Moment South Korea plane skids along runway before fiery crash
Monday 30 December 2024 05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA Jeju Air passenger plane carrying 181 people skidded down the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday, December 29, before crashing.
The aircraft appeared to land without its landing gear deployed as it touched down on the tarmac, skidding and veering off the runway before slamming into a wall and bursting into flames.
Watch here.
Jeju Air: Moment South Korea plane skids along runway before fiery crash
US investigators help South Korea in probe after crash
Monday 30 December 2024 06:00 , Jabed AhmedThe National Transportation Safety Board is leading a team of US investigators to help South Korea‘s aviation authority in its investigation of the Jeju Air crash in Muan, the agency said.
Planemaker Boeing BA.N and the Federal Aviation Administration are participating, NTSB said.
Experts question bird strike claims
Monday 30 December 2024 06:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarExperts have questioned whether a bird strike could have caused the undercarriage to fail after a flight with 181 people onboard crashed in South Korea yesterday.
All but two of the 181 people aboard Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 died on Sunday morning after the plane embarked on an unsuccessful emergency landing at South Korea’s Maun International airport. It had flown in from the Thai capital of Bangkok, carrying dozens of Christmas holidaymakers.
Among the passengers were five children under the age of 10, including a three-year-old.
Horrifying footage showed the plane skidding across the runway before colliding with a brick wall and bursting into flames. The only two survivors were two crew members who had been seated at the back of the plane.
More here.
Why did the South Korean Jeju Air flight crash? Experts question bird strike claims
King Charles and Queen ‘profoundly saddened’ by crash
Monday 30 December 2024 07:00 , Jabed AhmedThe King has paid tribute to the victims of a plane crash in South Korea which claimed the lives of 179 people.
“My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the horrific air accident at Muan, which resulted in such grievous loss of life,” the King said in a statement.
“As the people of the Republic of Korea mourn this disaster, the families and loved ones of all the victims are in our prayers.”
Distraught families want answers after 179 people die
Monday 30 December 2024 07:17 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarGrieving families screamed and wept at a South Korean airport as the names of the dead were confirmed after a plane carrying 181 people crashed, killing all but two on board, in the worst domestic aviation disaster in the country’s history.
An investigation has been launched, with a bird strike collision among the contributory factors being considered for the crash. Preliminary reports also suggest the plane’s front landing gear failed to deploy.
Among the dead were three generations of the same family, with a man in his sixties telling Korean Yonhap news agency that his sister-in-law, daughter, her husband and their young children were tragically on board.
More here.
Families want answers after South Korea’s deadliest domestic air disaster
More than 140 victims identified
Monday 30 December 2024 07:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAt least 141 victims of the Jeju Air plane crash have been identified so far, South Korea’s land ministry said today, according to Yonhap news agency.
The ministry said all the 179 bodies have been moved to a temporary morgue and families of the victims will be contacted following autopsies.
“Once we are ready to transfer the bodies following autopsies by investigation agencies, we will contact the families,” an official said.
Jeju Air CEO bows in apology after South Korea deadly plane crash
Monday 30 December 2024 08:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarJeju Air’s CEO bowed in apology after one of his airline’s passenger planes crashed and burst into flames at an airport in South Korea.
At a news conference in Gimpo, Kim E-bae issued a “sincere apology and condolences to those who have lost their lives in the accident and their families.”
Jeju Air CEO bows in apology after South Korea deadly plane crash
Families camp out at airport demanding answers
Monday 30 December 2024 08:23 , Barney DavisAid materials are arriving in the area set up for family members arriving at the airport to identify the victims.
They have set up rows of booths handing out ramen, water, fruits and tissues, according to the BBC.
The crash killed mostly local residents who were returning from holidays in Thailand, while two Thai nationals also died.
“I can only accept it, make peace with it,” said Boonchuay Duangmanee, 77, the father of one of the Thai victims. “When I think about it, I remind myself that it was an accident. It’s something that can happen to anyone. So, we’ve come to terms with it because no matter what I do, my daughter won’t come back.”
On Monday morning, investigators were trying to identify some of the more than two dozen remaining victims, as anguished families waited inside the Muan airport terminal.
Park Han-shin, who lost his brother in the crash, said he was told by authorities that his brother had been identified but has not been able to see his body.
Park called on other victims’ families to unite in responding to the disaster and recovery efforts, citing a 2014 ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people. Many relatives of the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster complained it took authorities too long to identify those killed and the cause of that accident.
South Korea plans to inspect Boeing 737-800 jetliners
Monday 30 December 2024 08:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSouth Korea’s transport ministry today said the government plans to conduct safety inspections on all Boeing 737-800 jetliners operated by the country’s airlines.
The Boeing 737-800 plane operated by South Korea’s budget airline Jeju Air skidded off a runway at Muan International Airport in the country’s south, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into a fireball yesterday. The incident killed all but two of the 181 people aboard.
Acting president Choi Sang Mok presided over a task force meeting on the crash and instructed the Transport Ministry and police to launch investigations into its cause. He also ordered the ministry to implement an emergency review of the country’s overall aircraft operation systems.
Another Jeju Air flight faces similar landing gear issue - report
Monday 30 December 2024 09:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA Jeju Air aircraft that departed from Gimpo Airport in Seoul for Jeju today experienced an unidentified landing-gear issue after take-off and returned to Gimpo, Yonhap news agency reported.
The aircraft landed safely at the Gimpo airport, it added.
The airline informed its 161 passengers on board about the mechanical defect caused by the landing gear issue and subsequently returned the flight around 7.25am (local time).
This comes a day after a Jeju Air flight crashed at the Muan international airport yesterday, killing all 175 passengers along with four crew members
In pics: Rescuers comb Jeju Air plane crash site on Monday
Monday 30 December 2024 09:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Thai family grieves daughter’s death in crash: ‘My daughter won’t come back’
Monday 30 December 2024 10:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA family in northeastern Thailand are mourning the loss of Jongluk Duangmanee, one of two Thai nationals of the Jeju Air crash, and wish to bring her body home for a religious ceremony.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when the Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at South Korea’s Muan International Airport yesterday.
Boonchuay Duangmanee, 77, said he must come to terms with his 45-year-old daughter’s sudden death.“I can only accept it, make peace with it,” he told state broadcaster Thai PBS.
“No matter what I do, my daughter won’t come back.”He had felt a “sense of unease” when neighbours told him of the Jeju Air crash, he added, as his daughter often travelled with the airline.
Jongluk, the third youngest in the family, had been working in South Korea for seven years and would visit her home in Udon Thani, about 500km north of the Thai capital, every year.
Investigators to probe materials of concrete fence
Monday 30 December 2024 10:28 , Barney DavisNew acting president Choi Sang-mok on Monday presided over a task force meeting on the crash and instructed authorities to conduct an emergency review of the country’s aircraft operation systems.
“The essence of a responsible response would be renovating the aviation safety systems on the whole to prevent recurrences of similar incidents and building a safer Republic of South Korea,” said Mr Choi, who is also deputy prime minister and finance minister.
Ministry officials said they will look into whether a concrete fence at Muan Airport housing a set of antennas designed to guide aircraft safely during landings should have been made with lighter materials that would break more easily upon impact.
Video of the crash indicated that the pilots did not deploy flaps or slats to slow the aircraft, suggesting a possible hydraulic failure, and did not manually lower the landing gear, suggesting they did not have time, said John Cox, a retired airline pilot and chief executive of Safety Operating Systems in St Petersburg, Florida.
Despite that, the jet was under control and travelling in a straight line, and damage and injuries likely would have been minimised if not for the barrier being so close to the runway, Mr Cox said.
Concerns raised over quick 28-minute safety check before fatal flight
Monday 30 December 2024 11:00 , Barney DavisThe Korea Times reports that the doomed B737 flew four countries in a day, the month before the crash with tight one-hour turnarounds allowing just 28 minutes for safety checks.
One veteran mechanic with over a decade of experience working with B737s told Korea Times: “The 28-minute maintenance time is barely enough to check for cockpit warning lights and visually inspect the exterior for obvious damage. It’s essentially a walkthrough, not a detailed inspection.”
The aircraft involved in the crash was purchased by Jeju Air in 2017 but had previously been operated by Ryanair.
Alarmingly, just one day after the crash, another Jeju Air B737 experienced a landing gear issue and was forced to return to the airport immediately after takeoff.
Jeju Air reassure Thai victims they will be responsible for damages
Monday 30 December 2024 11:30 , Barney DavisThai Ambassador to South Korea Tanee Sangrat expressed condolences to the families and said JeJu Air officials had told them the airline will be responsible for costs of tragedy.
“The Embassy has reported the tragedy to the Foreign Minister and (the Thai) MFA and coordinated closely with (the) Korean authorities concerned. Our Consular Department has informed families of the two Thai victims,” he said.
“Our Embassy has also worked closely with Jeju Air officials who reassured us that they would be responsible for the related costs of damages of the victims.
“Today the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul and Team Thailand offices have lowered the flag for seven days in mourning for the victims. We will continue to work with all local authorities and provide assistance to victims and their families.”
What is a bird strike?
Monday 30 December 2024 12:20 , Barney DavisA bird strike is a collision between a plane in flight and a bird. In the UK there were more than 1,400 bird strikes reported in 2022, but only about 100 affected the plane.
The miraculous Hudson River landing was needed after the airbus collided with a flock of geese. All 155 passengers and crew survived.
But some aviation experts are sceptical about whether a bird strike could have caused the crash at Muan Airport.
“Typically they [bird strike] don’t cause the loss of an airplane by themselves,” Mr Thomas told Reuters.
Australian airline safety expert Geoffrey Dell also told the news agency: “I’ve never seen a bird strike prevent the landing gear from being extended.”
In pictures: Families mourn loss at the scene where Jeju Air Boeing 737 crashed
Monday 30 December 2024 13:20 , Barney Davis
Muan has the highest rate of bird strikes among South Korea’s 14 airports
Monday 30 December 2024 14:20 , Barney DavisAccording to data submitted to Rep Lee Yeon-hee of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, a total of 559 bird strike incidents occurred with planes at 14 regional airports from 2019.
Gimhae International Airport had the highest number of bird strikes at 147, followed by Gimpo at 140, Jeju at 119, Daegu at 38 and Cheongju at 33.
At Muan, a total of 10 bird strike incidents have occurred.
However, when considering the occurrence rate relative to the total number of flights operated, the airport near Muan has the highest rate among the 14 airports.
Investigators are examining bird strikes, whether any of the aircraft’s control systems were disabled, and the apparent rush by the pilots to attempt a landing soon after declaring an emergency as possible factors in the crash, fire and transportation officials have said.
Experts say many questions remain, including why the plane, powered by two CFM 56-7B26 engines, appeared to be travelling so fast and why its landing gear did not appear to be down when it skidded down the runway and into a concrete embankment.
Why did the South Korean Jeju Air flight crash, killing 179? Experts question bird strike claims
Monday 30 December 2024 14:42 , Barney DavisExperts said it seemed unlikely a bird strike would have been the sole cause of the landing gear malfunctioning.
Why did the South Korean Jeju Air flight crash? Experts question bird strike claims
Key timings of the crash
Monday 30 December 2024 15:20 , Barney DavisBelow, we have some key timings of the Jeju Air plane crash earlier today, according to South Korea’s transport ministry. They show local times in South Korea.
08:57 a.m. - Control tower issued a bird strike warning
08:59 a.m. - Mayday call
09:03 a.m. - Runway crash
11:30 a.m. - Flight data recorder recovered
2:24 p.m. - Cockpit voice recorder recovered
WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Victims being identified by fingerprints says firefighter
Monday 30 December 2024 16:20 , Barney DavisFirefighters described the crash site as overwhelmingly grim as they worked to identify the victims for families camped outside.
“There’s no way to describe it except as utterly horrific,” said a firefighter.
“It was impossible to identify the victims by their faces or even their locations.
“We had to go through the passenger list and painstakingly match any fingerprints we could find.”
Satellite images show South Korea’s Muan airport in the aftermath of the Jeju Air crash
Monday 30 December 2024 17:20 , Barney Davis
South Korea plane crash disaster marks another setback for Boeing
Monday 30 December 2024 18:20 , Tom Watling
South Korea plane crash disaster marks another setback for Boeing
South Korea struggles to determine cause of plane crash that killed 179 people
Monday 30 December 2024 20:06 , Tom Watling
South Korea struggles to determine cause of plane crash that killed 179 people
Anger as families await victims’ remains after South Korea plane crash
Monday 30 December 2024 21:27 , Tom Watling
Anger as families await victims’ remains after South Korea plane crash
Experts ask why the South Korean Jeju Air flight crashed, killing 179
Monday 30 December 2024 23:06 , Tom WatlingWhy did the South Korean Jeju Air flight crash? Experts question bird strike claims
Moment Jeju Air plane skids along South Korea runway before crash
01:05 , Tom WatlingJeju Air: Moment South Korea plane skids along runway before fiery crash
South Korea plane crash: Everything we know so far
03:05 , Tom Watling
US investigators and Boeing officials join Jeju Air crash probe
03:17 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA team of investigators from the US and officials from aircraft manufacturer Boeing joined the on-site probe of the Jeju Air plane crash at the Muan international airport.
A member from the US Federal Aviation Administration, three experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board and four representatives from Boeing have joined South Korean investigators, Seoul’s transport ministry said.
“South Korean and US investigators discussed the schedule procedures and specific areas of focus for the investigation,” Joo Jong-wan, head of aviation policy at the transport ministry, told reporters.
Bird strike, concerete wall - Questions over South Korea’s deadliest plane crash
04:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarInvestigators are examining bird strikes, whether any of the aircraft’s control systems were disabled, and the apparent rush by the pilots to attempt a landing soon after declaring an emergency as possible factors in the crash, fire and transportation officials have said.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall. Two crew members were pulled out alive.
Officials have also faced pointed questions about design features at the airport, particularly a large dirt-and-concrete embankment near the end of the runway used to support navigation equipment.
The plane slammed into the embankment at high speed and erupted into a fireball. Bodies and body parts were thrown into surrounding fields and most of the aircraft disintegrated in flames.
South Korean officials say the embankment was built according to standards, and that there are similar features at other airports including in the US and Europe.
But many experts said its proximity to the end of the runway defied best practices and likely made the crash far more deadly than it may have been otherwise.
The runway design “absolutely (did) not” meet industry best practices, which preclude any hard structure like a berm within at least 300m of the runway’s end, John Cox, chief executive of Safety Operating Systems, told Reuters.
Jeju Air stock hit record low
04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarShares of South Korean budget carrier Jeju Air hit their lowest on record yesterday, after the deadliest air crash in the country killed 179 people.
Jeju Air shares traded down 8.5 per cent after falling as much as 15.7 per cent earlier in the session to 6,920won (£3.74), the lowest since they were listed in 2015.
The share slide yesterday wiped out as much as 95.7bn won (£51.9m) in market capitalisation.
Jeju Air CEO bows in apology after South Korea deadly plane crash
05:07 , Tom WatlingJeju Air CEO bows in apology after South Korea deadly plane crash
Anger as grieving families wait for victims’ remains
05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDesperate families who camped out at an airport awaiting news of their loved ones “wailed and passed out” as names of the 179 killed in South Korea’s deadliest plane crash were announced yesterday.
Grief and shock swept through the room as it emerged the only two survivors were cabin crew sitting at the back of the Boeing 737-800 which crash-landed at Muan International airport.
Investigators have retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, but it could be months before the cause of the disaster is clear – including why Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 from Bangkok landed without its slats or wheels deployed, and why there was a solid object beyond the runway perimeter that the pilots were unable to avoid.
More here.
Anger as families await victims’ remains after South Korea plane crash
At least 174 victims identified
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe remains of at least 174 people have been identified by South Korean officials as grieving families camp outside the morgue for the bodies of their loved ones.
“Of the 32 people who could not be identified by fingerprints, we identified 17 people in the first DNA test and 10 more in the second round,” the land ministry said today.
“We are further confirming the remaining five due to DNA inconsistencies.” Officials yesterday said it could take up to 10 days to prepare the dead for transport.
Doomed aircraft operated 13 flights in 48 hours before the crash
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Jeju Air plane that crashed in Muan killing 179 people had operated 13 flights in 48 hours just prior to the fatal incident, Yonhap news agency reported citing sources.
The high number of trips in such a short period has raised concerns over excessive usage of the Boeing B737-800 aircraft to meet the Holiday rush.
It was found to have traveled to domestic and international destinations, including Beijing, Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, Nagasaki and Taipei.
What is known about a fiery passenger jet crash landing that claimed 179 lives in South Korea?
07:07 , Tom Watling
What is known about a fiery passenger jet crash landing that claimed 179 lives in South Korea?
In pics: People pay tribute to the victims of Jeju Air crash
07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Moment South Korea plane skids along runway before fiery crash
08:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA Jeju Air passenger plane carrying 181 people skidded down the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday before crashing.
Yonhap news agency, citing firefighting authorities reported that, except for the two rescued, all the missing passengers are presumed dead and search efforts have now shifted to recovering the bodies.
The aircraft appeared to land without its landing gear deployed as it touched down on the tarmac, skidding and veering off the runway before slamming into a wall and bursting into flames.
Watch here.
Jeju Air: Moment South Korea plane skids along runway before fiery crash
South Korea intensifies probe into Jeju Air crash
09:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSouth Korea ramped up investigations today into the cause of its deadliest domestic air accident as police scrambled to identify victims, while families of those killed in this week's crash of a Jeju Air jet pushed for more details.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when the Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport on Sunday, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into an embankment holding navigation equipment.
But remarks in the airport's operating manual, uploaded early in 2024, said the embankment was too close to the end of the runway and recommended that the location of the equipment be reviewed during a planned expansion.
A transport ministry official said authorities would need to check the document before replying to questions.
South Korea to complete inspections by 3 January
09:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSouth Korean officials said inspections of all 101 B737-800s operated by South Korean airlines were set to wrap up by 3 January, though the airport would stay closed until 7 January.
Acting president Choi Sang-mok yesterday ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country's entire airline operation.
Jeju Air to reduce flight operations by up to 15 per cent
10:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarJeju Air will reduce its flight operations by up to 15 per cent until March to strengthen its operational safety measures, chief executive Kim E Bae said.
“We are committed to addressing the ongoing situation, reinforcing safety protocols and restoring public trust," he told reporters today.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when the Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport on Sunday, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into an embankment.
The Jeju Air boss said the company was preparing emergency financial support to cover necessary expenses and assist the families of the victims.
"We are in detailed discussions with both domestic and international insurers to handle the settlement process," Mr Kim added.
South Korea begins releasing bodies of victims
10:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSouth Korean officials today began releasing bodies of the victims killed in the Jeju Air plane crash on Sunday.
“Of the 179 victims, the bodies of four have completed the handover procedures to their bereaved families for funerals,” transport minister Park Sang-woo said site of the disaster, where 179 people were killed in one of the worst plane crashes in South Korea’s history.
“For 28 victims, whose identities have been confirmed and autopsies completed, we will allow funeral procedures to begin from 2pm (local time) today with the consent of their families,” he added.
In pics: Mourners pay their respects
11:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Trump's secretary of state nominee offers condolences
11:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarMarco Rubio, the senator nominated by Donald Trump to serve as the secretary of state, offered deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash.
"Our hearts go out to the Korean people. We share in your grief over the tragic loss of 179 people," he wrote on X. "Our prayers are with you and your great nation."
Our hearts go out to the Korean people. We share in your grief over the tragic loss of 179 people. And we extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones amid this immeasurable pain. Our prayers are with you and your great nation.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 31, 2024
Families want answers after 179 die in plane crash
11:59 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarGrieving families screamed and wept at a South Korean airport as the names of the dead were confirmed after a plane carrying 181 people crashed, killing all but two on board, in the worst domestic aviation disaster in the country’s history.
The Jeju Air passenger plane skidded off a runway at Muan international airport, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames as the Boeing 737-800 from Bangkok attempted an emergency landing on Sunday, at 9.03am local time.
Inside the arrival area of the airport, about 185 miles away from the capital Seoul, authorities called out the names of some of those killed in the crash, triggering an explosion of grief and rage among the passengers’ families in the terminal where their loved ones had been due to return home.
Among the dead were three generations of the same family, with a man in his sixties telling Yonhap news agency that his sister-in-law, daughter, her husband and their young children were tragically on board.
More here.
Families want answers after South Korea’s deadliest domestic air disaster
Bird strike, concrete wall - Questions over South Korea’s deadliest plane crash
12:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarInvestigators are examining bird strikes, whether any of the aircraft’s control systems were disabled, and the apparent rush by the pilots to attempt a landing soon after declaring an emergency as possible factors in the crash, fire and transportation officials have said.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall. Two crew members were pulled out alive.
Officials have also faced pointed questions about design features at the airport, particularly a large dirt-and-concrete embankment near the end of the runway used to support navigation equipment.
The plane slammed into the embankment at high speed and erupted into a fireball. Bodies and body parts were thrown into surrounding fields and most of the aircraft disintegrated in flames.
South Korean officials say the embankment was built according to standards, and that there are similar features at other airports including in the US and Europe.
But many experts said its proximity to the end of the runway defied best practices and likely made the crash far more deadly than it may have been otherwise.
The runway design “absolutely (did) not” meet industry best practices, which preclude any hard structure like a berm within at least 300m of the runway’s end, John Cox, chief executive of Safety Operating Systems, told Reuters.
South Korea plane crash: Everything we know so far
13:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFamily members of South Korea plane crash victims call for help
13:29 , Tom Watling
South Korea plane crash victims’ families plead for help recovering loved ones
South Korea plane crash is the deadliest in a year marked by several fatal aviation accidents
14:02 , Tom Watling
South Korea plane crash is the deadliest in a year marked by several fatal aviation accidents
2024 was deadliest year for commercial aviation since 2018
14:45 , Tom WatlingAnger as families await victims’ remains after South Korea plane crash
15:31 , Tom WatlingAnger as families await victims’ remains after South Korea plane crash
