Bird strike tragedy: Plane crash at Muan kills 179
The pilot of the Jeju Air plane, which 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 sent a mayday signal, and the pilots indicated their intention to make another approach.
The Ministry of Transport is currently considering a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines.
Tragic crash. 179 people dead
In the Jeju Air crash at Muan Airport, 179 people died. Out of 181 people on board, only two were rescued – these were crew members who were hospitalised.
Footage of the crash broadcast by YTN television shows the Jeju Air plane skidding 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, focusing particularly on the bird strike, which may have affected the landing gear. It is suspected that a bird was lodged in the wing of the plane, as confirmed by witness accounts and messages from passengers.
