Just one day after the serious accident that killed 179 people, there were reports of renewed problems with a plane operated by South Korean budget airline Jeju Air. A domestic flight had to be canceled due to landing gear problems. The plane was a Boeing 737-800, the same model involved in Sunday’s fatal disaster.
Domestic flight 7C101 was en route to Jeju Island in the south of the Korean Peninsula from Gimpo – west of the capital Seoul – at 6:37 a.m. (local time) on Monday.
The pilot returned
Less than an hour after takeoff, the pilot informed the 161 passengers on board of a mechanical problem apparently caused by defective landing gear. This was reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap. The aircraft then returned to Gimpo International Airport, landing there safely at 7:25 am (local time).
The passengers were then transferred to another aircraft of the same type, Boeing 737-800, which departed for Jeju at 8:30 am (local time). However, 21 passengers decided not to board “for safety reasons,” reports The Korea Times newspaper.
According to Song Kyung Hoon, head of Jeju Air’s Management Support Office, the pilot immediately notified the ground control center after noticing the landing gear problem. Song: “Although after additional measures it was confirmed that the landing gear was functioning normally, the captain decided to return to the airport for a safety check.”
Plane crash in South Korea: Pilots reported a bird strike
Meanwhile, the investigation into the cause of Sunday’s fatal crash, which killed 179 people, continues. It is now clear that the pilots of the plane that crashed in South Korea reported a bird strike shortly before the emergency landing. The pilots made a Mayday distress call due to a bird strike.
This confirms suspicions that a bird strike could be related to problems with the landing gear of Jeju Air’s Boeing 737-800. Authorities said the tower had recently warned about the birds. The plane landed at South Korea’s Muan Airport in the southwest of the country on Sunday morning (local time) without its landing gear extended, failed to stop in time and crashed into a wall.
Almost all 181 prisoners died. Only two crew members survived. Flight 7C2216 came from Bangkok. Besides two Thai nationals, there were only Koreans on board.
The government now wants to have all Boeing aircraft inspected
The South Korean government now wants to inspect all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines to determine whether the airlines are complying with the applicable regulations for this aircraft type, as announced by the Ministry of Transport. This includes checking maintenance records and usage rates.
According to Yonhap, the aircraft type is widely used by low-cost airlines in South Korea. According to the head of aviation regulation at the Ministry of Transport, Joo Jong Wan, Jeju Air is known for the high number of flights with its planes, Yonhap reported.
The American authorities want to provide support
Help in determining the cause of Muan’s accident is also expected to come from the US. The American aircraft manufacturer Boeing contacted the airline shortly after the accident.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden said Americans’ thoughts and prayers were with those affected by the tragedy. “The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance,” the report continued. According to the South Korean government, US authorities want to participate in the investigation into the accident.
National mourning ordered
There was great sadness at the airport after the accident. The airline apologized to the relatives and the boss took responsibility. The bodies of the dead were placed in a temporarily set up morgue. The disaster hits South Korea during a serious state crisis that saw President Yoon Suk Yeol suspended.
South Korea’s acting president Choi Sang Mok has declared seven days of national mourning. On Monday, he discussed possible relief measures for the accident victims with Speaker of Parliament Woo Won Shik.
Source: Krone
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