By Ju-min Park and Hongji Kim
MUAN COUNTY, South Korea (Reuters) -South Korea’s performing President Choi Sang-mok on Monday ordered an emergency security inspection of the nation’s whole airline operation system as investigators labored to determine victims and discover out what prompted 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 top 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.
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 mentioned.
“As quickly because the accident restoration is carried out, the transport ministry is requested to conduct an emergency security inspection of the whole plane operation system to stop recurrence of plane accidents,” he mentioned.
The transport ministry mentioned 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 circumstances as doable elements within the crash, fireplace officers have mentioned.
Consultants say many questions stay, together with why the airplane, powered by two CFM 56-7B26 engines, seemed to be travelling so quick and why its touchdown gear didn’t look 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:).
On Monday, transport ministry officers mentioned because the pilots made a scheduled method they advised air site 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,” mentioned Christian Beckert, a flight security professional and Lufthansa pilot primarily based in Munich. “You extra have possibly an engineered materials arresting system, which lets the airplane sink into the bottom somewhat bit and brakes (it).”
RETURNING HOLIDAY MAKERS
The crash killed principally native residents who have been getting back from holidays in Thailand, whereas two Thai nationals additionally died.
“I can solely settle for it, make peace with it,” mentioned 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, mentioned he was advised by authorities that his brother had been recognized however has not been in a position to see his physique.
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 family 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 mentioned the jet’s flight knowledge recorder was recovered however appeared to have sustained some injury on the skin and it was not but clear whether or not the information was sufficiently intact to be analysed.
Muan Worldwide Airport stays closed by Wednesday however the remainder of the nation’s worldwide and regional airports together with the principle Incheon Worldwide Airport have been working as scheduled.
Shares of Jeju Air hit their lowest degree on file on Monday, buying and selling as a lot as 15.7% decrease.
Beneath international aviation guidelines, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and robotically contain the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) in the USA the place the airplane was designed and constructed.
The NTSB mentioned it was main a staff of U.S. investigators to assist South Korea’s aviation authority. Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration have been additionally participating.
A big memorial has been arrange in a county fitness center about 9 km (5 miles) from the crash web site, the place individuals together with performing President Choi got here to pay respects.
Choi, who’s overseeing restoration efforts and the investigation, grew to become performing 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.
