Witnesses of plane crash in South Korea recount engine sparks, bird strikes before crash
Witnesses of the fatal plane crash South Korea According to a report, they said they saw flames in the plane’s engine and heard explosions on Sunday.
A Jeju Air flight At least 176 people were killed when it skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport in Muan, about 190 miles south of Seoul, and crashed into a concrete fence, the Associated Press reported, citing the country’s National Fire Agency (NFA).
According to Yonhap News Agency, authorities are investigating a potential landing gear failure caused by bird strikes that may have caused the crash.
The videos show the plane attempting to land without the landing gear deployed.
At least 176 dead as plane crashes off airport runway in SOUTH KOREA: REPORTS
Firefighters work on a runaway plane at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, Dec. 29, 2024. (Yonhap via REUTERS)
There were 181 people on the plane when the collision occurred at around 9:03 am local time. Emergency responders pulled two crew members to safety, conscious and non-life-threatening, according to health officials, while three others remain missing.
South Korea’s Ministry of Transport said the plane was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 returning from Bangkok, Thailand.
“We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and are ready to support them,” Boeing said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew.”
According to Yonhap News Agency, a witness, Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who lives near the airport, said he saw a spark on the right wing of the plane before the incident.
“I was telling my family that there was a problem with the plane when I heard a loud explosion,” Yoo said.
Firefighters work on a runaway plane at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, Dec. 29, 2024. (Yonhap via REUTERS)
Another witness, Cho, identified only by his last name, said the plane hit a concrete wall at the end of the runway as it was taking a walk about 4.5 kilometers, or about 2.8 miles, from the airport.
“I saw the plane land and when I saw the flash of light, I thought it was about to land,” Cho said. “Then there was a loud explosion with smoke in the air, then I heard a series of explosions.”
Kim Yong-cheol, 70, said the plane failed to land on its first attempt and had to turn back to try again before the crash.
Kim said he heard “scrapping metal” twice about five minutes before the crash. He also said he looked up at the sky and saw the plane, which failed to land, take off before hearing a “loud explosion” and seeing “black smoke billowing into the sky”.
This screenshot from video footage taken near Muan International Airport shows black smoke billowing from Muan Airport in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, Dec. 29, 2024. (Yonhap via REUTERS)
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A 50-year-old witness, surnamed Jung, said he was fishing nearby when he saw the plane collide with a flock of birds, resulting in a fire in the right engine.
“While landing on the runway, the plane crashed into a flock of birds approaching from the opposite direction. “Before I saw flames coming from the right engine, I heard two or three thuds, like the birds had been sucked into the engine.”
Director of Thai Airports Kerati Kijmanawat said in a statement that the plane took off. Suvarnabhumi Airport abnormal conditions on the aircraft or on the runway are not reported.
In a statement, Jeju Air said it was “deeply sorry” for the accident and “will do its best to manage the consequences of the accident.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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