Tragedy at Muan: Deadly plane crash shakes South Korea
The plane crash that occurred on Sunday in the southwestern county of Muan, South Korea, was preceded by several explosions. Witnesses observed the aircraft descending after a series of unusual flashes.
On Sunday, a passenger airplane crashed at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, about 286 kilometres southwest of Seoul. There was most likely a landing gear failure.
The pilot attempted to land, but the manoeuvre was unsuccessful. The South Korean airline Jeju Air's Boeing 737-8AS veered off the runway and collided with a fence.
Plane crash in South Korea. Death toll is rising
According to the Yonhap news agency, in the crash of the passenger plane with 175 passengers and a six-member crew on board, at least 127 people died. Rescuers are still searching for bodies scattered after the aircraft hit the runway. The plane was completely destroyed, and only the tail could be recognized among the wreckage.
Footage broadcast by local television stations shows the plane attempting to land without deploying its landing gear. Witnesses report seeing a spark on the right wing of the plane before landing.
Forty-one-year-old Yoo Jae-yong, who lives near the airport, witnessed the tragic landing. "I was telling my family there was a problem with the plane when I heard a loud explosion," he said.
Another witness stated that he was walking 5 kilometres from the airport when the accident occurred. "I saw the plane descending and thought it was about to land when I noticed a flash of light...Then there was a loud bang followed by smoke in the air, and then I heard a series of explosions," he said.
Seventy-year-old Kim Yong-cheol saw the plane did not land on the first attempt. The pilot turned around to make another landing, but the crash occurred. Kim recalled hearing a "metal scraping" sound twice five minutes before the accident.
Officials believe that a landing gear malfunction, possibly caused by a bird strike, might have been the cause of the accident. The police and fire department have launched an investigation at the scene to determine the exact cause.
