Deadly runway disaster: Bird strike blamed for Korea plane crash
A passenger plane, a Boeing 737-8AS flying from Bangkok, veered off the runway and collided at high speed with a fence while landing at Muan Airport in South Korea, as reported by the Yonhap agency. The aircraft caught fire. There were 175 passengers and 6 crew members on board. At least 122 people have died.
Rescuers are still searching for bodies scattered by the impact of the aircraft on the runway. The plane was completely destroyed, and among the wreckage, only the tail could be recognised, media reported. According to the head of the local fire department, Lee Jeong-hyeon, two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the rear of the burning aircraft.
Videos and photos showing fire and a column of black smoke rising above the airport have surfaced online. The plane, landing without its landing gear deployed, slid off the runway, and after colliding with elements of the airport infrastructure, broke into many parts.
According to preliminary information, the crash occurred due to a landing gear failure probably caused by a bird strike. The pilots attempted to land without extended landing gear, on the fuselage, but the manoeuvre failed, and the plane hit the concrete runway fence, bursting into flames.
As reported by the South Korean Ministry of Transport, before the tragic accident at Muan International Airport, the control tower sent a bird strike warning to the plane. According to the News1 agency, one of the passengers sent a text message to a relative that a bird was stuck in the plane's wing before the crash.
Rescue services are working on-site. A representative of the airport authorities told CNN, "Rescue workers are focusing on reaching people inside the tail section of the plane." Authorities reported that rescue services have pulled at least two live passengers from the aircraft wreckage.
Dozens of casualties in South Korea. Plane crashed
The plane had 173 South Korean citizens and 2 Thai citizens on board.
The aircraft belongs to the South Korean airline Jeju Air. Muan International Airport is located in South Jeolla Province, about 300 kilometres south of Seoul.
President on-site
According to media reports, more than 700 people are involved in the rescue operation, including members of the police, military, and coast guard. Their task is not only to conduct searches but also to identify the deceased and mark locations with found bodies.
Choi Sang-mok, who has temporarily served as President of South Korea for two days, was present at the scene of the tragedy. His visit aimed to show support for the families of the victims and emphasise that the government is working intensively on explaining the causes of the crash and organising the rescue operation.
