By Ju-min Park and Hongji Kim
MUAN COUNTY, South Korea (Reuters) -South Korea’s appearing President Choi Sang-mok on Monday ordered an emergency security inspection of the nation’s total airline operation system as investigators labored to determine victims and discover out what precipitated the nation’s deadliest air catastrophe.
All 175 passengers and 4 of the six crew have been killed when a Jeju Air Boeing (NYSE:) 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the tip of the runway at Muan Worldwide Airport, erupting in a fireball because it slammed right into a wall. Two crew members have been pulled out alive.Â
The highest precedence for now’s figuring out the victims, supporting their households and treating the 2 survivors, Choi advised a catastrophe administration assembly in Seoul.
“Even earlier than the ultimate outcomes are out, we ask that officers transparently disclose the accident investigation course of and promptly inform the bereaved households,” he stated.
“As quickly because the accident restoration is performed, the transport ministry is requested to conduct an emergency security inspection of your entire plane operation system to forestall recurrence of plane accidents,” he stated.Â
The transport ministry stated authorities have been contemplating whether or not to conduct a particular inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 plane operated by South Korean airliners.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from the Thai capital Bangkok, was attempting to land shortly after 9 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Sunday on the airport within the south of the nation.
Investigators are inspecting hen strikes and climate situations as attainable elements within the crash, fireplace officers have stated.
Specialists say many questions stay, together with why the aircraft, powered by two CFM 56-7B26 engines, gave the impression to be travelling so quick and why its touchdown gear didn’t seem like down when it skidded down the runway and right into a wall.
CFM Worldwide is a three way partnership between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran (EPA:).Â
On Monday, transport ministry officers stated because the pilots made a scheduled method they advised air visitors management the plane had suffered a hen strike, shortly after the management tower gave them a warning birds have been noticed within the neighborhood.
The pilots then issued a mayday warning and signalled their intention to desert their touchdown and to go round and check out once more. Shortly afterwards, the plane got here down on the runway in a stomach touchdown, touching down about 1,200 metres (1,312 yards) alongside the two,800 metres (3,062 yard) runway and sliding right into a construction on the finish of the runway.
Officers are investigating what function the localiser antenna, situated on the finish of the runway to assist in touchdown, performed within the crash, together with the embankment on which it was standing, transport ministry officers advised a media briefing.
“Usually, on an airport with a runway on the finish, you do not have a wall,” stated Christian Beckert, a flight security knowledgeable and Lufthansa pilot primarily based in Munich. “You extra have possibly an engineered materials arresting system, which lets the airplane sink into the bottom a bit bit and brakes (it).”
RETURNING HOLIDAY MAKERS
The crash killed largely native residents who have been coming back from holidays in Thailand, whereas two Thai nationals additionally died.
“I can solely settle for it, make peace with it,” stated Boonchuay Duangmanee, 77, the daddy of one of many Thai victims. “After I give it some thought, I remind myself that it was an accident. It is one thing that may occur to anybody. So, I’ve come to phrases with it as a result of it doesn’t matter what I do, my daughter gained’t come again.”
On Monday morning, investigators have been attempting to determine a number of the final remaining victims, as anguished households waited contained in the Muan airport terminal.
Park Han-shin, who misplaced his brother within the crash, stated he was advised by authorities that his brother had been recognized however has not been capable of see his physique.Â
Park known as on different victims’ households to unite in responding to the catastrophe and restoration efforts, citing a 2014 ferry sinking that killed greater than 300 individuals. Many kin of the victims of the Sewol ferry catastrophe complained it took authorities too lengthy to determine these killed and the reason for that accident.
Transportation ministry officers stated the jet’s flight knowledge recorder was recovered however appeared to have sustained some harm on the skin and it was not but clear whether or not the info was sufficiently intact to be analysed.Â
Muan Worldwide Airport stays closed by Wednesday however the remainder of the nation’s worldwide and regional airports together with the primary Incheon Worldwide Airport have been working as scheduled.
Shares of Jeju Air hit their lowest degree on document on Monday, buying and selling as a lot as 15.7% decrease.
Beneath world aviation guidelines, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and routinely contain the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) in america the place the aircraft was designed and constructed.
The NTSB stated it was main a crew of U.S. investigators to assist South Korea’s aviation authority. Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration have been additionally collaborating.
A big memorial has been arrange in a county health club about 9 km (5 miles) from the crash website, the place individuals together with appearing President Choi got here to pay respects.
Choi, who’s overseeing restoration efforts and the investigation, grew to become appearing chief simply three days in the past after the nation’s president and prime minister have been impeached over the imposition of a short-lived martial legislation.
