Jeju Air tragedy: Bird strike investigated after 179 die
The pilot of the Jeju Air plane that crashed at Muan Airport had previously reported a bird strike, according to the South Korean Ministry of Transport.
The control tower had earlier warned pilots about the possibility of a bird strike. Shortly before the crash, the plane issued a mayday signal, and the pilots indicated their intention to attempt another approach.
The Ministry of Transport is considering a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines.
Tragic crash: 179 people died
In the Jeju Air crash at Muan Airport, 179 people died. Of the 181 people on board, only two were rescued — both crew members currently hospitalized.
Footage of the crash broadcast by YTN television shows the Jeju Air plane sliding at high speed down the runway, apparently with retracted landing gear, and crashing head-on into a concrete wall at the outskirts of the airport. Other local TV stations showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the burning aircraft.
Officials are investigating the causes of the crash, paying particular attention to the bird strike, which may have led to a landing gear malfunction. There is suspicion that a bird was lodged in the plane's wing, as confirmed by witness accounts and messages from passengers.
