Bird strike, adverse weather likely causes for S Korea plane crash

Death toll rises to 85 in Jeju Air plane crash

SEOUL: A plane carrying 181 people crashed at Muan international airport in South Korea on Sunday. Initial response team confirmed 29 deaths from the crash, but warned that the toll is expected to rise due to the severity of the injuries. So far 85 fatalities have been confirmed.

The crash is believed to have been caused by “contact with birds, resulting in malfunctioning landing gear” as the plane attempted to land at the airport in the country’s southwest.

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There were 175 passengers and six crew members on board.

INVESTIGATION UPDATES

A bird strike and adverse weather likely caused a fatal Jeju Air crash in South Korea, the local fire chief said Sunday. Latest video from the scene also showed the plane being engulfed in flames on landing.

“The cause of the accident is presumed to be a bird strike combined with adverse weather conditions. However, the exact cause will be announced following a joint investigation,” Lee Jeong-hyun, chief of Muan fire station, said during a briefing.

Eighty-five people have been killed and two rescued so far, South Korea’s fire agency said Sunday, after a Jeju Air plane crashed on landing with 181 people on board.

“So far, two rescued and 85 dead,” the National Fire Agency said in a statement, with the rescue operation ongoing.

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There are also reports of some casualties due to passengers jumping off the plane.

ACTING PRESIDENT REACHES SITE

Acting President Choi Sang-mok called for the mobilisation of all resources to save the passengers. “All related agencies… must mobilise all available resources to save the personnel,” he instructed officials in a statement.

President Choi also reportedly arrived at the scene of the crash, as Boeing said that it was in contact with the Jeju Air over the deadly crash.