In one of South Korea's worst aviation tragedies, questions arise about the four critical minutes leading to the Jeju Air crash.
South Korea's Jeju Air Plane Crash: Investigating the Final Minutes
South Korea's Jeju Air Plane Crash: Investigating the Final Minutes
A tragic aircraft disaster unfolds as investigators turn their attention to the pilot's distress call and bird strike.
On a fateful Sunday morning at Muan International Airport, complications arose as a Jeju Air passenger jet, carrying 181 individuals, faced multiple challenges during its landing approach. After a warning from the control tower about sizeable bird activity in the area, the experienced pilot reported a bird strike just two minutes later at 8:59 a.m., declaring an emergency. His decision to execute a go-around was a critical move meant to ensure safety; however, it appeared he couldn't regain the necessary altitude.
Merely 60 seconds later, as the plane continued its descent, it was perilously low and headed toward the runway from an unintended direction. At 9:03 a.m., the aircraft crashed into a concrete structure just off the runway, resulting in a catastrophic explosion that claimed the lives of all but two passengers on board, many of whom were South Korean citizens returning from Christmas vacations in Thailand.
This incident marks the most devastating aviation accident on South Korean soil, comparable only to Lion Air Flight 610's tragedy in 2018, which resulted in the loss of 189 lives. As the investigation unfolds, analysts are keen to piece together what transpired in those pivotal four minutes following the pilot’s emergency declaration.
A deeper inquiry into cockpit communications, pilot maneuvers, and potential mechanical failures is expected as investigators navigate the nuances of aviation safety and emergency preparedness in the quest to understand this heartbreaking disaster.
Merely 60 seconds later, as the plane continued its descent, it was perilously low and headed toward the runway from an unintended direction. At 9:03 a.m., the aircraft crashed into a concrete structure just off the runway, resulting in a catastrophic explosion that claimed the lives of all but two passengers on board, many of whom were South Korean citizens returning from Christmas vacations in Thailand.
This incident marks the most devastating aviation accident on South Korean soil, comparable only to Lion Air Flight 610's tragedy in 2018, which resulted in the loss of 189 lives. As the investigation unfolds, analysts are keen to piece together what transpired in those pivotal four minutes following the pilot’s emergency declaration.
A deeper inquiry into cockpit communications, pilot maneuvers, and potential mechanical failures is expected as investigators navigate the nuances of aviation safety and emergency preparedness in the quest to understand this heartbreaking disaster.
