According to the news of the South Korean agency Yonhap, the plane belonging to the Jeju Air airline had an accident while landing at Muan International Airport in the city of Muan, 288 kilometers southwest of the capital Seoul.
IT HITS THE WALL AND EXPLODED
The plane lost control during landing and went off the runway, crashing into the wall surrounding the airport and exploding. It was reported that 179 people died in the accident.
Authorities stated that the accident was caused by a malfunction in the landing gear of the plane, and that the plane, whose landing gear did not open the first time, crashed during a forced landing on the second time.
In the images broadcast on national television, it was seen that the plane, which tried to land on the runway on its body, could not slow down and crashed into the wall at the end of the runway.
TWO CABIN STAFF WERE RESCUED FROM THE CRASH
Fire crews extinguished the fire on the plane, which was largely destroyed by fire in the accident, and rescued two cabin crew.
A fire official stated that the passengers’ chances of survival were low after the plane hit the wall and said, “The plane is almost completely destroyed, it is difficult to identify those who lost their lives. It will take time to examine the remains.” he said.
It was noted that 2 of the 175 passengers and 6 crew members on the plane flying from Bangkok to Muan were Thai citizens and the others were South Korean citizens.
Noting that the ages of the passengers ranged from 3 to 78, the authorities reported that the majority of the passengers were in their 40s, 50s and 60s.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is acting in both positions due to the ongoing impeachment processes against the minister of state and the prime minister in the country, instructed the officers to make all efforts for search and rescue efforts while coming to the airport after the accident. Expressing his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident, Choi stated that the government will provide all possible assistance.
An emergency meeting was held at the Presidential Office, chaired by General Secretary Chung Jin-suk and attended by the secretaries of relevant units.
Acting Chief of Police Lee Ho-young instructed police units to mobilize all resources and work together with the fire department and other units.
In his apology statement following the accident, Jeju Air Chief Executive (CEO) Kim E-bae expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and promised to provide all kinds of support to the relatives of the victims.
WHY DID THE ACCIDENT HAPPEN?
In the statement of the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, it was stated that the control tower warned about “bird strike” about 6 minutes before the plane landed, and the pilot later made a “distress” call.
Authorities think the landing gear failure may have been caused by a bird strike.
BLACK BOXES WERE FOUND
In the statement made by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, it was stated that black boxes containing both flight and sound recordings were found from the wreckage during the studies carried out in the area where the plane crashed, and that the black boxes will help the investigation into what caused the accident.
THE LAST MESSAGE OF THE PASSENGER GIVES SHILLS
According to Reuters, one of the passengers on the plane texted his relative to say that a bird was stuck in the plane’s engine. In this last message, “Should I say my last words?” he asked.
7 DAYS OF NATIONAL MOURNING IN SOUTH KOREA
The South Korean government declared 7 days of national mourning. Flags in government and official buildings will be lowered tomorrow, and civil servants will wear black ribbons in memory of those who lost their lives.
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE FROM ERDOĞAN TO SOUTH KOREA!
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s post on his social media account is as follows:
We are deeply saddened by the tragic plane crash that occurred at Muan International Airport in our friend, the Republic of Korea.
I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident, to the friendly people and government of South Korea, on behalf of myself and my nation.
(AA-IHA)