In a heartbreaking incident on Sunday, a Jeju Air flight crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea, resulting in the loss of 179 lives. The ill-fated flight, designated as 7C2216, was en route from Bangkok's capital, Thailand, when disaster struck shortly after 9 a.m.
As the aircraft approached for landing, pilots reported experiencing a bird strike, a serious concern that can severely impact an airplane's performance. Despite their best efforts to manage the situation, the pilots issued a Mayday warning to air traffic control, indicating their decision to abort the landing and attempt a go-around maneuver.
However, shortly after, the plane made a belly landing approximately 1,200 meters along Muan International Airport's 2,800-meter runway. The aircraft skidded off the runway and collided with a nearby embankment. The impact was catastrophic, igniting a fireball immediately upon contact.
Out of the 181 people on board, 175 passengers and four of the six crew members perished in the crash. Only two crew members survived the horrifying event, being rescued shortly after the accident.
Aviation analysts are currently examining various factors that may have contributed to this tragedy. Potential causes under investigation include the impact of the bird strike, possible landing gear malfunction, the presence of a concrete structure near the runway, and pilot error. Authorities are working diligently to piece together the sequence of events to prevent such disasters in the future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
