A grieving South Korea flew flags at half-mast Monday for the 179 victims of its deadliest aircraft crash, as investigators examined why the Jeju Air flight crash-landed and erupted in flames.
The nation has began seven days of nationwide mourning, with the appearing president flying to the crash website in southwestern Muan for a memorial as groups of U.S. and South Korean investigators raced to determine what brought about Sunday’s catastrophe.
The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 181 individuals from Thailand to South Korea when it made a mayday name and belly-landing earlier than crashing right into a barrier and bursting into flames.
Everyone on board Jeju Air Flight 2216 was killed, save two flight attendants pulled from the wreckage.
Officials initially cited a chook strike as a possible reason behind the crash, which flung passengers from the aircraft and left it “almost completely destroyed,” in line with fireplace officers.
However, Seoul mentioned Monday it could conduct a particular inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800s in operation within the nation, with U.S. investigators, presumably together with from the beleaguered aircraft producer Boeing, becoming a member of the probe into the crash.
“We are reviewing plans to conduct a special inspection on B737-800 aircraft,” mentioned Joo Jong-wan, head of the aviation coverage bureau at South Korea’s Transport Ministry.
South Korea has a stable air security document and each black bins from Flight 2216 – the flight information recorder and the cockpit voice recorder – have been discovered.
South Korean investigators mentioned Monday that 141 of the 179 victims had now been recognized utilizing DNA evaluation or fingerprint assortment, in line with a press release from South Korea’s Land Ministry.
Victims’ households camped out on the airport in a single day in particular tents arrange within the airport lounge after a protracted, painful day ready for news of their family members.
“I had a son on board that plane,” mentioned an aged man ready within the airport lounge, who requested to not be named, saying that his son’s physique had not but been recognized.
Memorial
At the crash website early Monday, a middle-aged man and girl saved their gaze mounted by way of the fence, the place remnants of the aircraft – seats, gates, and twisted steel components – had been nonetheless scattered throughout the sphere close to the charred tail.
The scent of blood was nonetheless within the air.
Soldiers rigorously combed by way of a area of reeds subsequent to the runway, engaged in what gave the impression to be a seek for physique components.
South Korea’s appearing president, Choi Sang-mok, who has solely been in workplace since Friday, mentioned the federal government was making “every effort” to determine victims and help bereaved households.
Choi, an unelected bureaucrat who turned appearing president after his two predecessors had been impeached, mentioned Monday a “thorough investigation into the cause of the accident” could be carried out.
He additionally mentioned South Korea would conduct “an urgent safety inspection of the overall aircraft operation system” to forestall future aviation disasters.
The passengers, aged from 3 to 78, had been all Korean other than two Thais, authorities mentioned.
Low-cost provider Jeju Air mentioned it “sincerely” apologized, with high officers proven bowing deeply at a news convention in Seoul.
Criticism grows
Another Jeju Airlines flight utilizing the identical mannequin plane skilled a malfunction linked to the touchdown gear and was pressured to return to Seoul’s Gimpo airport shortly after takeoff, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
“We are aware of the return incident and looking into the cause,” a Jeju Air consultant informed AFP.
“We can’t say at this moment it was related to landing gear malfunction pending an investigation.”
Officials have pointed to a chook strike – a warning was issued by the management tower minutes earlier than the crash – as a possible think about Sunday’s crash.
However, a rising refrain of criticism from specialists analysing dramatic video footage of Flight 2216’s touchdown has centered on whether or not airport development might have performed an element.
Kim Kwang-il, Professor of Aeronautical Science at Silla University and a former pilot, mentioned he was “quite upset” when he reviewed the video displaying the aircraft making a talented emergency touchdown however then hitting a wall.
“There shouldn’t have been a solid structure in that area at all,” he informed AFP.
“Normally, at the end of a runway, there’s no such solid obstruction – it’s against international aviation safety standards,” he mentioned.
“The structure in question caused the aircraft to crash and catch fire.”
“Outside the airport, there are usually just fences, which are soft and wouldn’t cause significant damage. The plane could have skidded further and stopped naturally. The unnecessary structure is highly regrettable.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com