29.12.2024 14:40
A striking detail has emerged regarding the plane crash in South Korea, which has reportedly claimed the lives of 174 people. It was reported that the control tower warned the pilot about a "bird strike" approximately 6 minutes before the plane landed, and the pilot later made a "mayday" call. Authorities believe that the landing gear malfunction may have been caused by the bird strike.
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A passenger plane belonging to Jeju Air in South Korea crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in the city of Muan, 288 kilometers southwest of the capital Seoul. The aircraft lost control during landing and veered off the runway, crashing into a wall surrounding the airport and exploding. Initial reports indicate that 174 people have died in the accident.
CRASHED INTO THE WALL AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND EXPLODED
Authorities reported that the accident was caused by a malfunction in the aircraft's landing gear, stating that the landing gear did not deploy on the first attempt, leading to the crash during a forced landing on the second attempt. Footage broadcast on national television showed the aircraft struggling to land on the runway and failing to slow down before crashing into the wall at the end of the runway.
179 PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE DIED
Firefighters extinguished the fire on the aircraft, which was largely destroyed by fire, and rescued 2 cabin crew members. It is estimated that 179 of the 181 people on board the aircraft have died. A fire department official stated that the chances of survival for passengers were low after the plane crashed into the wall, saying, "The aircraft was almost completely destroyed, and it is difficult to identify the deceased. Analyzing the remains will take time." It was noted that 2 of the 175 passengers and 6 crew members on the Bangkok-Muan flight were Thai citizens, while the others were South Korean citizens.
MINISTER GAVE INSTRUCTIONS
Due to ongoing impeachment processes against the state minister and the prime minister, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also acting in both positions, instructed officials to make every effort for search and rescue operations while heading to the airport after the accident. Choi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and stated that the government would provide all possible assistance.
SECURITY MOBILIZED
An emergency meeting was held at the Presidential Office, attended by secretaries of relevant units under the chairmanship of Secretary General Chung Jin-suk. Acting Police Chief Lee Ho-young instructed police units to mobilize all resources and work together with firefighters and other units. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae expressed condolences to the families of the deceased in an apology statement made after the accident and promised to provide all kinds of support to the victims' relatives.
A WARNING WAS SENT FROM THE CONTROL TOWER
In a statement from the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, it was reported that about 6 minutes before the plane landed, the control tower warned of a 'bird strike', and the pilot later made a distress call. Authorities believe that the malfunction of the landing gear may have been caused by a bird strike.
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