
179 Confirmed Dead in Plane Crash in South Korea
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All but two passengers have been confirmed dead in the plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea. A total of 181 people were on board the aircraft.
The incident occurred shortly after 9:00 AM local time on Sunday December 29 when the plane encountered mechanical problems during landing. It approached at high speed across the runway before crashing into a separation wall and catching fire.
The fire was extinguished within an hour, but the aircraft was completely destroyed. Rescue services reported at 9:00 PM local time that 175 passengers and four crew members were found dead.
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Two survivors were rescued from the plane and reported to have sustained moderate to severe injuries. The flight originated from Bangkok, Thailand, with almost all passengers being South Korean citizens. Two passengers were from Thailand, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Rescue Services: Bird Strike Could Be the Cause
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, but images show that the landing gear was not deployed as the plane skidded across the runway at high speed.
The control tower issued a bird warning to the pilot at 8:57 AM. Two minutes later, the aircraft issued a “mayday” signal. The crash occurred five minutes after that, according to the Ministry of Transportation, as reported by Yonhap.
"The aircraft was cleared to land at 8:54 AM and attempted its first landing. After being warned of bird activity, a problem arose, and the aircraft accelerated again, forcing it to circle back to its earlier course," said Yoo Kyung-Soo, head of aviation safety, during a press conference.
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Investigation and Controversy:
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Police Raids: South Korean police conducted search and seizure operations at Muan International Airport, Jeju Air's Seoul office, and a regional aviation office to collect documents related to the aircraft's operation and maintenance.
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Flight Recorder Analysis: Data from the cockpit voice recorder has been extracted, and the damaged flight data recorder is being sent to the United States for further analysis.
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Potential Causes: Initial theories suggested a bird strike; however, experts are now considering other factors, including possible mechanical failures and the presence of a concrete wall near the runway that may have exacerbated the crash's severity.
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Operational Concerns: The aircraft had completed 13 flights in the 48 hours preceding the crash, raising questions about potential overextension.
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Regulatory Scrutiny: Authorities have imposed a travel ban on Jeju Air's CEO, Kim E-bae, as part of the ongoing investigation.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities analyzing various factors to determine the exact cause of the crash.
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