A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 met a devastating end on Sunday when it skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport, South Korea, and crashed into a concrete barrier, resulting in a fiery explosion. The incident, captured on camera, claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew, leaving only two survivors, both crew members.
Footage from South Korean television reveals the aircraft seemingly without its landing gear deployed as it overran the runway. The ensuing collision ignited a blaze, sending plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. The 15-year-old plane, arriving from Bangkok, crashed at approximately 9:03 a.m. local time, about 180 miles south of Seoul.
Former FAA safety team representative Kyle Bailey noted the aircraft's apparent high speed during the skid, suggesting a possible impact with instrument landing equipment as a contributing factor to the disaster. The recovery of the plane's black box, containing flight data and cockpit voice recorders, offers a crucial step towards understanding the cause of the tragedy. Government experts will meticulously examine the retrieved data.
While the investigation is expected to span months, Muan fire station chief Lee Jeong-hyeon indicated that various potential causes, including a bird strike, are being considered. The airport control tower had reportedly issued a bird strike warning to the pilot shortly before the intended landing, granting permission for an alternative landing area. The extent of the damage is evident in the wreckage, with the tail assembly being the only readily identifiable part of the aircraft.
President Biden expressed condolences and offered U.S. assistance to South Korea in the wake of the catastrophe.
