The South Korean government has announced seven days of national mourning, which will last until January 4, following the tragedy of the Jeju Air Boeing jetliner crash at Muan International Airport, which killed almost all 181 people on board.
Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the plane crash.
“My thoughts go out to the many South Korean families grieving today after the dramatic plane crash. I unite through prayer with the survivors and the dead”the pontiff said.
The final death toll from the plane crash in South Korea is 179, meaning only two people survived, the fire service said.
Two crew members survived the Jeju Air crash after being pulled from the tail of the plane. Both are hospitalized, but their condition is not yet known.
Of the dead, 84 are men and 85 are women, while the gender of 10 people has not been confirmed, according to authorities.
Jeju Air, established in 2005, is an airline low cost which operates flights to Japan, Thailand, Philippines, as well as domestic routes. The aircraft Boeing 737-800 involved in the accident was built in 2009.
Flock of birds warning
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which is responsible for the country’s aviation safety, the control tower had issued warning for a possible collision with a flock of birds at 8:57 am (local time), just six minutes before the crash.
“During the landing attempt on runway no. 1, the control tower issued a warning of a possible collision with a flock of birds, and the pilot declared an emergency shortly thereafter.”the ministry said.
The pilot signaled alarm (mayday) on 8:59 amwhile the first landing attempt was made on 9:00 am
The aircraft crashed on 9:03 amwithout the landing gear open.
Increase in bird swarm incidents
The Ministry rejected claims that the length of the runway contributed to the crash. The runway at Mouan airport has total length 2,800 metersbut due to construction works the distance available was approx 2,500 meters.
The Airports Authority of Korea (KAC) reported that the 14 international and domestic airports it manages have scored increase in bird swarm incidents in recent years.
Specifically:
- 76 in 2020
- 109 in 2021
- 131 in 2022
- 152 in 2023
KAC emphasized that it uses sound systems which prevent them from approaching and other measures to remove birds from landing and take-off areas.
Black box recovered
The country’s Ministry of Transport sent members of the Air and Rail Accident Investigation Board to Muan airport on Sunday afternoon.
Source: www.enikos.gr
