Tragedy struck in South Korea as a passenger plane crashed, resulting in the loss of all but two of the 181 people on board. This incident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters globally in recent years.
Following the Jeju Air crash, investigators are working tirelessly to uncover the reasons behind this devastating event. Early reports and footage from the scene provide some insight into what transpired.
The pilot mentioned a bird strike at 8:59 a.m., prompting plans to abort landing and circle for another attempt. However, instead of completing a full circle, the plane approached the runway at high speed from a south-facing direction.
Upon landing, it became evident that critical components like engine control and landing gear were malfunctioning. The absence of wing flaps further complicated efforts to slow down the aircraft.
Ultimately, the plane overshot the runway and collided with a concrete structure before bursting into flames.
The Boeing 737-800 jet had departed from Bangkok with passengers mostly consisting of South Koreans returning home after holiday celebrations in Thailand.
Recovery efforts have retrieved crucial data from the black box despite partial damage, shedding light on what transpired during those fateful minutes leading up to impact.
Sources: South Korean transport ministry; satellite image by Maxar Technologies
Aviation analysts are exploring various factors that may have contributed to this tragic event. The presence of concrete structures near runways is under scrutiny as investigations continue.”
SIMILAR CONCRETE STRUCTURES EXIST IN OTHER AIRPORTS IN SOUTH KOREA AND ABROAD,” SAID JU JONG-WAN OF THE MINISTRY OF LAND,” INFRASTRUCTURE,” AND TRANSPORT.” WHILE BUILT ACCORDING TO REGULATIONS,” THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REVIEW WHETHER RULES NEED REVISION FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT.”
PHOTO BY CHANG W.LEE / THE NEW YORK TIMES
A SATELLITE IMAGE CAPTURED ON MONDAY SHOWED NUMEROUS VEHICLES AT THE CRASH SITE.” IDENTIFYING REMAINS HAS BEEN A GRUELING TASK,” YET AUTHORITIES CONFIRMED THAT BY TUESDAY MORNING,” 170 BODIES HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AND FOUR RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILIES.”
SOURCE: PLANET LABS’ SATELLITE IMAGE ON DEC…. P >
2024-12-31 16:10:18
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