By : Lloyd Mahachi 

The United Nations has not been involved in this incident.

What happened?

A passenger jet crash-landed at an airport in southwestern South Korea, resulting in the deaths of 179 people. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members from Bangkok when disaster struck at the airport in Muan county. Footage of the crash showed the plane sliding on its belly at high speed, hitting an earthen embankment, and erupting in a fireball.

The crash occurred just after 9 a.m. local time on Sunday, and firefighters were quickly on the scene to extinguish the blazing wreckage. Several parts of the aircraft were seen strewn across the runway, and the victims included 84 males, 85 females, and 200 people whose gender could not be determined is incorrect it is 10.

What caused the accident?

Experts say that the plane’s undercarriage, specifically the wheels used for takeoff and landing, appeared not to have fully deployed before landing. However, what caused this failure to deploy is still unclear. Aviation analysts say more evidence is needed before South Korean authorities can definitively pinpoint what might have caused the crash.

Local officials have speculated about a possible bird strike prior to the crash landing, but footage of the crash showed clear skies at the time. David Soucie, a former Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector, warned against speculation, saying it’s the “worst enemy of an investigator.”

Where is the investigation focused?

Officers from the national Incident Investigation Committee have arrived to look into what caused the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a team of US investigators, including from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, to assist South Korean authorities with their investigation.

The investigation is focused on determining why the plane’s undercarriage failed to deploy, and whether this was caused by a bird strike or other factors. The “black box” flight data recorder and the voice recording device have been recovered, and authorities are analyzing this data to piece together what happened.

What are the authorities saying?

South Korea’s acting president has declared the site of the plane crash a special disaster zone and vowed a full investigation into what caused the deadly disaster. Choi Sang-mok said the government will concentrate all resources on recovery and support for the victims and pledged to make every effort to manage the aftermath of the incident and prevent similar accidents in the future.

The tragedy comes at a time of political chaos in South Korea, with the country’s president stripped of his powers by parliament and an acting president in place. The government has promised to do everything in its power to support the families of the victims and to determine the cause of the crash.

What has the plane’s maker said?

Boeing has extended its condolences to those who lost loved ones in the crash and said it is in contact with Jeju Air regarding the incident. The company has a strong safety record, but has faced challenges in recent years, including two 737 Max crashes.

Analysts have described the Boeing 737-800 as a reliable workhorse of the skies with an extremely strong safety record. However, the investigation into the crash will be closely watched to determine what caused the tragedy and whether there were any factors that contributed to the accident.

What the families have said

The scene inside Muan International Airport was one of heartbreak and anguish as relatives and loved ones waited for news. Many of those gathered burst into tears or cried out as authorities read victims’ names out loud.

Families of the victims have spoken out about their loss, with one father saying he “never thought that this would be the last time we would see each other forever.” Another man who lost his daughter said she had been working in a factory in South Korea for several years and had been back in Thailand visiting family before departing on the flight.

The families are waiting for answers about what caused the crash and are seeking support and comfort in the aftermath of the tragedy. The government has promised to do everything in its power to support the families and to determine the cause of the crash.

Editor : Josephine Mahachi