Tragedy in Muan: U.S. experts to probe Boeing crash原因
South Korea is sending the Boeing 737-800 black boxes to the USA. The best specialists will investigate the cause of the crash in Muan, in which 179 of the 181 people on board were killed.
Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan announced cooperation with American investigators in probing the cause of Friday's tragedy. After mysterious explosions on the right side of the aircraft's fuselage, the Boeing 737-800 pilot attempted to land.
As a result, the plane landed on the airport's surface without extending its landing gear and collided with a wall surrounding the port. It shattered almost completely; only the aircraft's tail remained intact.
Causes of the South Korean plane crash: Experts from the USA will assist in determining them
179 passengers and crew members died. Two crew members miraculously escaped death. At the moment of impact, they were in the rear part of the plane.
Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan announced that the accident analysis will be conducted in cooperation with American investigators. The black box was sent from South Korea to the United States.
The head of the Muan Fire Department, Lee Jung-hyun, pointed out potential causes of the tragedy. Possible reasons include a bird strike and weather conditions.
The South Korean Ministry of Transport confirmed that the control tower warned the pilots of the Jeju Airplane about a potential hazard when flocks of birds appeared near the airport.
Footage of the crash broadcasted by YTN television showed the aircraft gliding at high speed down the runway, apparently with its landing gear retracted, and colliding head-on with a concrete wall at the end of the runway. The 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 was flying from Bangkok.
