South Korea airplane crash: Pilot reported fowl strike and declared mayday earlier than jet went down

The pilot of a airplane which crashed in South Korea reported a fowl 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 potential for a fowl strike.

Then, a minute after that the captain despatched a mayday sign.

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What we find out about South Korea airplane crash

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 stated the pilot had confirmed to the management tower that the airplane had suffered a fowl 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 via the wreckage, choosing up tiny bits of particles to put 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 all over the 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.

A lot of these on board had been getting back from a Christmas vacation to Thailand.

Now the family members they’ve left behind are gathering at a memorial altar- attempting to course of the aftermath of South Korea’s worst-ever aviation catastrophe.

The nation’s hearth service stated beforehand they had been trying into whether or not a fowl strike was behind the crash. The investigation continues.

The airplane did not deploy its touchdown gear, resulting in it skidding throughout the runway, and specialists beforehand stated it did not function its flaps or slats to decelerate both.

Climate situations had been additionally being thought-about as a possible trigger.

‘An emergency security inspection’

Talking on the identical day, South Korea’s performing president, the third particular person to carry the position this month, stated he had ordered an emergency security inspection of the nation’s total airline operation system.

“As quickly because the accident restoration is performed, the transport ministry is requested to conduct an emergency security inspection of all the plane operation system to stop recurrence of plane accidents,” Choi Sang-mok stated.

He pledged to maintain the bereaved households of victims up to date on the investigation into the crash.

“Even earlier than the ultimate outcomes are out, we ask that officers transparently disclose the accident investigation course of and promptly inform the bereaved households,” Mr Choi added.

Boeing 737-800 concerned in crash

The nation’s transport ministry additionally stated it was contemplating a separate inspection of the plane concerned within the crash – a Boeing 737-800.

Boeing beforehand stated it was involved with Jeju Air concerning Flight 2216 and stands able to help the airline.

It additionally prolonged condolences to the households of the victims.

A day after the crash, a Jeju Air pilot turned again one other Boeing 737-800 after detecting a sign which indicated a difficulty with the touchdown gear.

The airline says the gear “was confirmed to be functioning usually after extra measures”, however the pilot returned to Gimpo Airport close to Seoul out of warning.

Passengers had been transferred to a special 737-800 operated by Jeju Air on the airport – however 21 determined to not board out of security issues.