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South Korea jet crash: bird strike? Known thus far
Tragedy struck on Sunday morning in South Korea when a jet crashed upon landing, resulting in the loss of more than 170 passengers. At Muan International Airport in the southwest, a Jeju Air jet smashed into a wall after veering off the runway. The jet, carrying a total of 181 individuals and returning from Bangkok, Thailand, tragically claimed the lives of 179 passengers while miraculously sparing the lives of two. The exact cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with authorities considering the possibilities of a bird strike and severe weather conditions as contributing factors to the disaster.
The ill-fated plane touched down at Muan around 09:00 local time, where it was attempting to land when air traffic control issued a warning about a potential bird strike. This prompted the pilot to initiate a hold off before declaring a Mayday two minutes later, at which point air traffic control instructed the jet to land from the opposite direction. Reports from local media suggest that a passenger onboard the doomed flight managed to send a text message to a relative, mentioning that a bird had become lodged in the wing, hindering the plane’s ability to land safely. Disturbing footage captured the plane appearing to land without its landing gear, skidding down the runway before colliding with a wall and erupting into flames.
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Witnesses at the scene reported hearing a loud bang followed by a series of explosions as the blaze engulfed the aircraft. Videos of the aftermath reveal the jet consumed by fire and billows of smoke rising into the sky, only to be extinguished by the efforts of firefighters. During a press conference, Muan fire department commander Lee Jeong-hyun confirmed that the tail of the jet had been identified, although the rest of the plane’s structure was unrecognizable due to the extensive damage sustained. While pointing to a possible bird strike and adverse weather conditions as potential causes, authorities are continuing their investigation, aided by the recovery of the plane’s flight and voice recorders.
Transport officials in South Korea disclosed that the flight’s lead pilot possessed a vast amount of experience, with over 6,800 flight hours and having taken command in 2019. In the realm of aviation, a bird strike refers to an incident where an aircraft collides with a bird. Such occurrences are not uncommon, with the Civil Aviation Authority reporting over 1,400 bird strikes in the UK in 2022, resulting in only 100 planes being affected. Notably, the infamous case of an Airbus jet crash-landing in New York’s Hudson River in 2009 after encountering a flock of geese has brought attention to the potential dangers posed by bird strikes.
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As the recovery efforts continue in the wake of the tragedy, the focus has shifted to the individuals onboard the ill-fated flight. With a total of 175 passengers and six crew members, the majority of whom were South Korean, the aftermath of the crash has left a devastating toll on the families and loved ones of the victims. Detailed analysis of the passenger manifest has revealed that of the deceased, five were children under the age of 10, with the youngest being a 3-year-old toddler and the oldest a 78-year-old adult.
Miraculously, two individuals, a man and a woman, managed to survive the crash and were discovered in the tail section of the plane before being promptly transported to a hospital. The recovery efforts have engaged nearly 1,500 emergency personnel, including firefighters and police officers, who are tirelessly working to locate plane components and any potential survivors along the runway. Authorities have designated a special disaster zone in Muan, offering centralized government support to aid the local administration and assist the victims and their families in coping with the aftermath of the tragic event.
The response to the crash has been met with an outpouring of support and condolences from various entities, including the South Korean government, the airline company Jeju Air, and the aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Acting President Choi Sang-mok expressed his condolences to the victims and pledged swift assistance to those affected, while also decreeing a period of national mourning with government office flags lowered for seven days. Families of the crash victims have been provided with a space at the airport to gather and mourn their loved ones, with authorities working diligently to identify and repatriate the remains of the deceased.
As the investigation into the cause of the crash continues and the recovery efforts persist, the nation of South Korea mourns the loss of those who perished in the tragic incident. The profound impact of the disaster serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human life and the importance of stringent safety measures in the aviation industry to prevent such calamities in the future.
