The pilot of a airplane which crashed in South Korea reported a hen strike and declared mayday minutes earlier than it went down, it has been revealed.
Simply two of the 181 individuals on board the Jeju Air airplane survived the flight from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan Worldwide Airport in South Korea.
At 8.54am native time on Sunday (shortly earlier than midnight within the UK) the airplane’s pilot was given permission to land.
Nonetheless, simply three minutes later, the airport’s management tower warned of the opportunity of a hen strike.
Then, a minute after that the captain despatched a mayday sign.
At 9.03am the airplane then failed a crash touchdown try, veering off the runway, slamming right into a concrete wall and exploding into flames.
Talking on Sunday, South Korea’s transport ministry mentioned the pilot had confirmed to the management tower that the airplane had suffered a hen strike after which issued the mayday name.
Eyewitness: Stillness and shock at Muan Airport after deadly crash
On the crash website at Muan Airport, you get a extremely sturdy sense of simply how sudden and catastrophic all of it was.
There may be an eery quiet as the military sifts by means of the wreckage, choosing up tiny bits of particles to position them in small plastic luggage.
Tens of metres from the airplane itself you’ll be able to see numerous passenger seats ripped aside and damaged bits of plane gear in every single place.
Solely the tail of the airplane is visible- most of it’s destroyed.
Engulfed by flames, it’s clear passengers had subsequent to no probability of surviving this horrific catastrophe.
Within the airport, a morgue has been established, and households are gathered- all in grief, however some nonetheless ready for his or her family members to be formally recognized.
They’ve sat in mournful silence- the arrivals board now carrying the names of these on board.
Sheltered tents have been erected to provide households privateness.
There is a stillness and shock that hangs within the air.
Lots of these on board have been coming back from a Christmas vacation to Thailand.
Now the family members they’ve left behind are gathering at a memorial altar- making an attempt to course of the aftermath of South Korea’s worst-ever aviation catastrophe.
The nation’s hearth service mentioned beforehand they have been trying into whether or not a hen strike was behind the crash. The investigation continues.
The airplane didn’t deploy its touchdown gear, resulting in it skidding throughout the runway, and specialists beforehand mentioned it did not function its flaps or slats to decelerate both.
Climate circumstances have been additionally being thought of as a possible trigger.
‘An emergency security inspection’
Talking on the identical day, South Korea’s appearing president, the third particular person to carry the function this month, mentioned he had ordered an emergency security inspection of the nation’s complete airline operation system.
“As soon as the accident recovery is conducted, the transport ministry is requested to conduct an emergency safety inspection of the entire aircraft operation system to prevent recurrence of aircraft accidents,” Choi Sang-mok mentioned.
He pledged to maintain the bereaved households of victims up to date on the investigation into the crash.
“Even before the final results are out, we ask that officials transparently disclose the accident investigation process and promptly inform the bereaved families,” Mr Choi added.
Picture:
South Korean troopers work close to the wreckage.
Pic: AP
Boeing 737-800 concerned in crash
The nation’s transport ministry additionally mentioned it was contemplating a separate inspection of the plane concerned within the crash – a Boeing 737-800.
Boeing beforehand mentioned it was involved with Jeju Air concerning Flight 2216 and stands able to assist the airline.
It additionally prolonged condolences to the households of the victims.
Picture:
Momentary shelters arrange on the airport for mourners ready for solutions.
Pic: AP/Ahn Younger-joon
A day after the crash, a Jeju Air pilot turned again one other Boeing 737-800 after detecting a sign which indicated a problem with the touchdown gear.
The airline says the gear “was confirmed to be functioning normally after additional measures”, however the pilot returned to Gimpo Airport close to Seoul out of warning.
Passengers have been transferred to a unique 737-800 operated by Jeju Air on the airport – however 21 determined to not board out of security issues.
