Efforts are made to lift the wreckage of an aircraft lying on the ground after it went off the runway and crashed at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea.
Credit: Reuters Photo
In a tragic incident, a passenger plane carrying 181 people crashed in South Korea's Muan International Airport on Sunday, killing at least 151.
The plane, operated by South Korea’s Jeju Air, was landing at Muan International Airport when the crash took place. Videos of the accident shows a white-and-orange plane speeding down a runway on its belly until it overshoots the runway, hitting a barrier and exploding into an orange fireball.
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How did the tragedy occur?
Boeing 737-800 of Jeju Air deviated from the runway and crashed the wall at the airport, engulfing the plane in flames in no time. Jeju Air was founded in the year 2005 and operates flights to other countries in Asia.
Initial information says that a bird striking the plane could be the reason for the plane to lose control and crash; also, unfavourable weather condition is also said to be an adding cause.
In the videos circulating online, the plane can be seen trying to make a landing when it is believed the plane's landing gear was damaged.
The Times Of India quoted Lee Jeong-hyun, the chief of Muan fire station who during a briefing said that a joint investigation is being carried away.
"The cause of the accident is presumed to be a bird strike combined with adverse weather conditions," said Lee.
The transport ministry of South Korea said that the plane was sent a warning about the bird strike by the control tower, after which it had attempted for an emergency landing because of malfunction in the landing gear.
However, according to the authorities, the plane could not reduce its speed resulting to the crash after sliding down the runway.
This crash marks the deadliest ever on South Korean soil and the worst involving a South Korean airline since a 1997 Korean Air Lines crash in Guam that killed more than 200.
The CEO of the airline Jeju Air apologised to the victims of the plane crash.
In a short media briefing, CEO Kim E-bae said that supporting the bereaved was a top priority for now.
(With Reuters and NYT inputs)