South Korea airplane crash: all besides two are presumed lifeless on Jeju Air flight carrying 181 individuals, say authorities – reside updates

Hours after the crash (the airplane was trying to land shortly after 9am (0000 GMT)), members of the family gathered within the airport’s arrival space. They may very well be heard screaming and crying as medics introduced the names of twenty-two victims to date recognized by their fingerprints, in response to Reuters. Papers had been circulated for households to jot down down their contact particulars. Two flight workers (one male and one feminine) had been discovered alive and transported to hospital, the hearth company mentioned. The remainder of the 181 individuals aboard are presumed to have died.

As we’ve got talked about in earlier posts, fireplace authorities have reportedly mentioned all however two of the 181 individuals aboard the Boeing 737-800 that veered off a runway and hit a wall at South Korea’s Muan worldwide airport are presumed to have died.

Greater than 1,500 emergency personnel have been deployed for the large restoration effort, together with 490 fireplace workers and 455 law enforcement officials, in response to the BBC.

Emergency rescue staff are attempting to find the stays of those that stay unaccounted for, whereas the our bodies of these recovered to date are being housed in a brief mortuary near the crash web site, the Korea JoongAng Each day newspaper is reporting.

Authorities are looking out close by areas for our bodies probably thrown from the airplane, Muan fireplace chief Lee Jung-hyun has informed journalists in a media briefing. “Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of (the plane) looks almost impossible to recognise,” he mentioned.

As a reminder, no trigger for the airplane crash has been formally confirmed but, however the fireplace service has prompt it might have been due to a collision with birds and poor climate circumstances (see put up at 07.00 for extra particulars).

Transport ministry officers have mentioned their early evaluation of communication data present the airport management tower issued a chook strike warning to the airplane shortly earlier than it supposed to land and gave its pilot permission to land in a distinct space. The pilot despatched out a misery sign shortly earlier than the airplane went previous the runway and skidded throughout a buffer zone earlier than hitting the wall, the officers mentioned.

Senior transport ministry official Joo Jong-wan mentioned staff have retrieved the flight knowledge recorder from the airplane’s black field and are nonetheless in search of the cockpit voice recording gadget. He mentioned authorities investigators arrived on the web site to analyze the reason for the crash and fireplace.

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South Korea’s rival political events have every launched separate initiatives to reply to the catastrophe, apparently shifting focus from their ongoing political animosity.

The opposition Democratic social gathering chief, Lee Jae-myung, has departed for Muan the place he plans to stay indefinitely to help rescue efforts, reviews Hankyoreh, although he plans to remain on the social gathering’s provincial workplace moderately than go to the crash web site whereas restoration operations proceed. The social gathering has established an emergency response committee led by Joo Cheol-hyeon, who chairs their South Jeolla provincial chapter.

In the meantime, the ruling Folks Energy social gathering has fashioned a process power centered on investigating the crash and supporting victims’ households. The social gathering’s appearing chief, Kweon Seong-dong, introduced he would go to Muan on Monday with process power members to “review accident response measures and prevention strategies” and meet with bereaved households.

Each social gathering initiatives come amid unprecedented political turmoil in South Korea. The nation’s president was suspended earlier this month after declaring martial legislation, and his appearing substitute was then impeached by the opposition-controlled parliament final week, leaving the finance minister as the present appearing president. The rapid-fire impeachments replicate the bitter political battle between the ruling and opposition events that has paralysed a lot of the nation’s governance.

• A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok carrying 181 passengers and crew crashed shortly after 9am native time (00:00 GMT) whereas trying a touchdown at Muan worldwide airport in south-western South Korea on Sunday morning.

• All however two of the individuals onboard Flight 7C2216 are presumed lifeless, in response to native fireplace authorities. Two survivors, each reportedly crew members, had been pulled from the tail part and are receiving remedy for “moderate to severe” accidents at a close-by hospital. Rescue staff have retrieved 120 our bodies; an additional 59 are lacking.

• Among the many 175 passengers aboard the flight, 173 had been Korean nationals and two had been Thai nationals, officers have mentioned.

• The Boeing 737-800 tried a stomach touchdown at about 9.03am native time after its touchdown gear reportedly did not deploy. The plane was seen skidding alongside the runway earlier than hitting the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two items on the entrance and tail sections and bursting into flames.

• The reason for the crash is but to be confirmed, although a chook strike and climate circumstances have been pointed to as potentialities. Native broadcaster MBC aired footage that seems to indicate a chook strike incident because the airplane was descending, and one of many two survivors reportedly informed rescue staff that the plane had skilled a chook strike. Witnesses reported listening to loud “bang” noises earlier than the plane struck the wall. Officers have additionally mentioned climate circumstances might have performed a job. Investigators have recovered the flight knowledge recorder, whereas the cockpit voice recorder remains to be being sought.

• If the demise toll is confirmed, it might be South Korea’s worst home civil aviation catastrophe and marks the primary main casualty incident involving a low-cost service within the nation’s historical past.

• South Korea’s appearing president, Choi Sang-mok, has arrived on the scene roughly 300km south-west of Seoul and has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for the rescue operations on the airport. ‘“No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy,” he mentioned on the scene.

• Jeju Air chief government, Kim E-bae, has issued official apology saying: “Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident. At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies. Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident.”

• A spokesperson for Boeing informed the Guardian: “We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”

Kerati Kijmanawat, president of Airports of Thailand, the nation’s major airport operator, mentioned in a press release he expressed deepest condolences for this incident.

He mentioned there have been no reviews of any irregular circumstances, both in relation to the plane and the runway, when the flight departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

At the moment, related businesses made no reviews of chook strikes or obstacles on the runway, he mentioned.

“AOT places the highest importance on the safety of its aircraft and passengers by continuously inspecting the runway, lighting systems, bird repellent systems, and maintaining them, while complying with international safety standards,” said Kerati.

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Heartbreaking scenes unfolded at Muan International Airport as more than 100 family members gathered in a meeting room to receive updates about their loved ones, reports Yonhap News. When Lee Jeong-hyeon, the chief of Muan fire station, told families that most passengers were presumed dead, the room erupted in wails of grief.

“Is there absolutely no chance of survival?” one family member asked, to which the fire chief could only bow his head and reply, “I’m so sorry, but that’s what it’s looking like”.

Some families expressed anger at what they saw as delayed responses from authorities and the airline. They had pleaded to be allowed near the crash site since this morning, but were denied access due to the restricted nature of the airport zone.

When the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, visited the airport, families reportedly surrounded him demanding real-time updates and pleading: “Please think of the families first”.

Choi could only bow repeatedly while saying, “I understand”.

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Transport ministry officials have revealed a critical six-minute sequence before the crash, reports Yonhap News. At 08:57, air traffic controllers warned the approaching aircraft about bird strike risks. One minute later, at 08:58, the pilot declared a “mayday”. The plane attempted to land at 09:00 and crashed at 09:03.

One of the two surviving crew members has reportedly corroborated initial theories about the cause, telling rescue workers immediately after being pulled from the wreckage that the aircraft had experienced a bird strike, according to fire officials.

The transport ministry has confirmed that investigators have recovered the flight data recorder, while the cockpit voice recorder is still being sought.

The National Police Agency has deployed 169 forensic investigators to help identify victims. Separately, 579 officers have been deployed to assist with search operations and escort emergency vehicles at the crash site.

Witnesses who have spoken to Yonhap News have described seeing flames in the jet’s engine and hearing explosions before the crash.

Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who was staying near to the airport, said he saw a spark on the plane’s right wing before the incident. “I was telling my family there was a problem with the plane when I heard a loud explosion,” Yoo said.

One witness said he saw the plane descending and thought it was about to land when he noticed “a flash of light”. “Then there was a loud bang followed by smoke in the air, and then I heard a series of explosions,” he said.

Another witness, Kim Yong-cheol, 70, said the plane failed to land in the first attempt and had circled back for another attempt.

Kim said he heard the sound of “metallic scraping” twice about five minutes before the crash.

He saw the plane rising after failing to make a landing, before he heard a “loud explosion” and saw “black smoke billowing into the sky.”

120 bodies recovered from crash site, says fire agency

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Fire authorities have recovered 120 bodies from the Jeju Air crash site at Muan International Airport, with 59 people still missing, according to South Korea’s national fire agency. Officials say the death toll so far includes 54 men, 57 women, and nine victims whose gender could not be immediately determined.

Rescue teams have divided the crash site into three zones as they continue to search for the remaining victims. However, fire officials told families at a briefing in the airport terminal that survival chances for the missing passengers are “virtually none” due to the severity of the crash and subsequent fire.

Only two people have reportedly survived the crash after being rescued from the aircraft’s tail section. They were rushed to a nearby hospital with “moderate to severe” injuries.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operating as flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, was attempting what officials described as a “belly landing” after experiencing landing gear problems. The plane struck airport perimeter structures and broke apart, with most of the fuselage being consumed by fire.

According to local media reports, many of the passengers were families returning from Christmas package holidays in Thailand. The flight was carrying 175 passengers (173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals), along with six crew members.

Ambassadors from around the world have offered messages of condolence.

Philip Goldberg, the US ambassador to South Korea, said on social media: “I was heartbroken to hear about the tragedy at Muan Airport this morning. My sincerest condolences go out to the victims and their loved ones, and my thoughts are with the people of Korea during this difficult time.”

German ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt also offered condolences, writing: “Very best wishes for the injured and all involved in the rescue efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with South Korea.”

British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks wrote: “Deepest condolences to the families of those who perished in this morning’s dreadful air accident at Muan.”