Witnesses to a lethal airplane 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 at the least 176 individuals, 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.Â
Movies present the airplane 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 by way of REUTERS )
The flight was carrying 181 individuals when the collision occurred at about 9:03 a.m. native time. Emergency employees pulled two crew members to security who well being officers say are aware and never in life-threatening situation, whereas three individuals remained lacking.
South Korea’s Transport Ministry mentioned the airplane was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet that was coming back from Bangkok in Thailand.
“We’re in touch with Jeju Air concerning 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 airplane’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 airplane 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 by way of REUTERS)
One other witness, recognized solely by his final identify, Cho, instructed the outlet he was taking a stroll 4.5 kilometers, or about 2.8 miles, from the airport when the airplane crashed into the concrete wall on the finish of the runway.
“I noticed the airplane 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 airplane was unable to land within the preliminary try and needed to circle again round to strive 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 regarded up on the sky and noticed the airplane ascending after failing to land earlier than he heard a “loud explosion” and observed “black smoke billowing into the sky.”
KAZAKHSTAN PLANE CRASH SURVIVORS SAY THEY HEARD BANGS BEFORE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN; PUTIN ISSUES STATEMENT
This display 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 by way of REUTERS )
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A 50-year-old witness, recognized by his final identify, Jung, was fishing close by when he says he noticed a flock of birds colliding with the airplane, which resulted in a fireplace in the appropriate engine.
“Because the airplane was touchdown on the runway, it hit a flock of birds approaching from the wrong 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 appropriate engine.”
Kerati Kijmanawat, the director of Airports of Thailand, mentioned in a press release that the airplane departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport with no studies of irregular situations 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’s going to do its “utmost to handle the aftermath of the accident.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
