Jeju Air tragedy: Bird strike suspected in fatal crash
The pilot of the Jeju Air plane, which crashed at Muan Airport, had previously reported a bird strike, according to the South Korean Ministry of Transport.
The control tower had earlier warned pilots about the possibility of a bird strike. Shortly before the crash, the plane sent a mayday signal, and the pilots indicated their intention to attempt another approach.
The Ministry of Transport is currently considering a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines.
Tragic crash: 179 people died
In the Jeju Air crash at Muan Airport, 179 people died. Out of 181 people on board, only two were rescued; these are crew members who are currently hospitalized.
Footage of the crash broadcast by YTN television shows the Jeju Air plane sliding at high speed down the runway, apparently with retracted landing gear and crashing head-on into a concrete wall at the outskirts of the airport. Other local TV stations showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the burning aircraft.
Officials are investigating the causes of the crash, paying particular attention to the bird strike, which may have caused the landing gear to malfunction. It is suspected that a bird was stuck in the wing of the plane, as confirmed by witness accounts and messages from passengers.
