Witnesses to a lethal aircraft crash in South Korea on Sunday mentioned they noticed flames within the engine of the plane and heard explosions, in line with a report.
A Jeju Air flight skidded off a runway at Muan Worldwide Airport within the city of Muan, roughly 190 miles south of Seoul, and collided with a concrete fence, killing no less than 176 folks, the Related Press reported, citing the nation’s Nationwide Hearth Company (NFA).
Authorities are investigating a possible touchdown gear failure stemming from a chicken strike which will have triggered the crash, in line with Yonhap Information Company.
Movies present the aircraft making an attempt to land with out its touchdown gear deployed.
PLANE VEERS OFF AIRPORT RUNWAY IN SOUTH KOREA AND CRASHES, KILLING AT LEAST 176: REPORTS
Firefighters perform extinguishing operations on an plane which drove off runaway at Muan Worldwide Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, December 29, 2024. (Yonhap through REUTERS )
The flight was carrying 181 folks when the collision occurred at about 9:03 a.m. native time. Emergency staff pulled two crew members to security who well being officers say are aware and never in life-threatening situation, whereas three folks remained lacking.
South Korea’s Transport Ministry mentioned the aircraft was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet that was coming back from Bangkok in Thailand.
“We’re involved with Jeju Air relating to flight 2216 and stand able to help them,” Boeing mentioned in a press release. “We prolong our deepest condolences to the households who misplaced family members, and our ideas stay with the passengers and crew.”
One witness, Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who was staying at a rental home close to the airport, mentioned he noticed a spark on the aircraft’s proper wing earlier than the incident, in line with Yonhap Information Company.
“I used to be telling my household there was an issue with the aircraft once I heard a loud explosion,” Yoo mentioned.
Firefighters perform extinguishing operations on an plane which drove off runaway at Muan Worldwide Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, December 29, 2024. (Yonhap through REUTERS)
One other witness, recognized solely by his final title, Cho, advised the outlet he was taking a stroll 4.5 kilometers, or about 2.8 miles, from the airport when the aircraft crashed into the concrete wall on the finish of the runway.
“I noticed the aircraft descending and thought it was about to land once I observed a flash of sunshine,” Cho mentioned. “Then there was a loud bang adopted by smoke within the air, after which I heard a collection of explosions.”
Kim Yong-cheol, 70, mentioned the aircraft was unable to land within the preliminary try and needed to circle again round to attempt once more earlier than the crash occurred.
Kim mentioned he heard the sound of “metallic scraping” twice about 5 minutes earlier than the crash. He additionally mentioned he seemed up on the sky and noticed the aircraft ascending after failing to land earlier than he heard a “loud explosion” and observed “black smoke billowing into the sky.”
This display screen seize from video footage captured close to Muan Worldwide Airport exhibits black smoke billowing into the air from the airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, December 29, 2024. (Yonhap through REUTERS )
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A 50-year-old witness, recognized by his final title, Jung, was fishing close by when he says he noticed a flock of birds colliding with the aircraft, which resulted in a hearth in the precise engine.
“Because the aircraft was touchdown on the runway, it hit a flock of birds approaching from the other way,” he mentioned. “I heard two or three bangs as if the birds had been sucked into the engine earlier than I noticed flames coming from the precise engine.”
Kerati Kijmanawat, the director of Airports of Thailand, mentioned in a press release that the aircraft departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport with no experiences of irregular circumstances with the plane or on the runway.
Jeju Air mentioned in a press release it expresses its “deep apology” over the crash and that it’ll do its “utmost to handle the aftermath of the accident.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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