dpa
Beijing
South Korean authorities had on Monday identified 140 of the 179 people killed the previous day when their plane crashed and caught fire in the deadliest aviation accident the nation has ever seen.
Investigations continue into the cause of the crash of the South Korean commercial flight travelling from Bangkok to Muan that veered off the runway before bursting into flames. The pilots reported a bird strike shortly before their crash landing, the Yonhap news agency reported earlier, citing the Transport Ministry.
The pilots had sent out a Mayday signal on Sunday morning after the bird strike at Muan International Airport in Jeolla province, about 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul, the report said.
The information supported suspicions that the landing gear of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 could have been affected. According to the authorities, the control tower at the airport had issued a bird warning shortly before the crash.
The pilots then carried out an emergency landing on the fuselage without the landing gear being deployed. The Boeing 737-800 skidded along the runway, smashed into a concrete wall and caught fire.
It was carrying 181 people, 179 of whom were killed. The two survivors were both crew members. Apart from two Thai nationals, all aboard were Korean citizens.
Investigators hope the two black boxes that were recovered will provide further details, although one of them was damaged in the impact. The analysis could take months, Yonhap reported.
Just a day after the accident, Yonhap reported on another Jeju Air aircraft with landing gear problems. Domestic flight 7C101 was en route from Gimpo, west of the capital Seoul, to Jeju Island in the south of the Korean peninsula. However, after take-off, the Boeing 737-800 returned to its departure airport.
The South Korean government plans to have all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines inspected to determine whether the airlines are complying with the regulations for this type of aircraft, the Transport Ministry said. The process involves inspecting maintenance records and utilization rates.
The aircraft type is widely used by low-cost airlines in South Korea, Yonhap reported.
Joo Jong Wan, the ministry’s head of aviation regulations, said that Jeju Air is known for the high rate of operations of its aircraft, Yonhap reported.
Flight data shows that the aircraft involved in the accident operated 13 flights in the preceding 48 hours.
Many people have cancelled bookings with Jeju Air, according to reports. The company said customers have returned some 68,000 tickets for domestic and international flights, mostly since the accident.
US aircraft manufacturer Boeing contacted the airline shortly after the accident and the South Korean ministry said the company plans to send two representatives to South Korea.
The US National Transportation Safety Board is also due to be represented by two people.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden said the thoughts and prayers of Americans are with those affected by the tragedy. “The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance,” he said. The US authorities plan to help investigate the accident, the South Korean government said.
Meanwhile, the airline has apologized to the victims’ relatives and its chief executive has taken responsibility for the accident. The bodies have been laid out at a temporary morgue set up at the airport.
The disaster hits South Korea amid a deep political crisis, with President Yoon Suk Yeol having been suspended. Acting President Choi Sang Mok has declared a seven-day period of national mourning. On Monday, he met with the parliamentary speaker, Woo Won Shik, to discuss possible relief measures.
