Seoul, Dec 29 (NationPress) Individuals present during a tragic plane accident in the southwestern region of Muan, South Korea, on Sunday, described witnessing flames erupting from the aircraft's engine and hearing loud explosions as authorities probe into the possibility of landing gear malfunction caused by a bird strike.
The Jeju Air flight, which was carrying 181 passengers, veered off course while attempting to land, ultimately crashing into a fence at Muan International Airport in Muan County, located in South Jeolla Province, roughly 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul, at approximately 9:07 a.m.
According to officials, at least 127 individuals have lost their lives, while two have been successfully rescued.
Footage broadcasted by local television networks depicts the plane trying to land without its landing gear extended. Investigators suspect that a failure of the landing gear, possibly instigated by a bird strike, may have led to the disaster.
Yoo Jae-yong, a 41-year-old resident of a nearby rental property, reported observing a spark on the plane's right wing prior to the incident, as per Yonhap news agency.
"I was warning my family that something was wrong with the aircraft when I suddenly heard a loud explosion," Yoo recounted.
Another observer, known only by the surname Cho, mentioned he was taking a walk 4.5 kilometers from the airport when the crash occurred.
"I noticed the plane descending and thought it was about to touch down when I caught sight of a bright flash," Cho stated. "Then came a loud bang, followed by smoke in the air, and a series of explosions followed that."
Kim Yong-cheol, 70, shared that the plane had failed its initial landing attempt and had circled back for a second try before the crash.
Kim noted he heard the sound of metal scraping twice about five minutes before the incident occurred.
He looked up to see the plane climbing after its failed landing before hearing a loud explosion and observing black smoke rising into the atmosphere.
A nearby fisherman, identified by the surname Jung, stated he witnessed a flock of birds colliding with the plane, which ignited a fire in the right engine.
"As the aircraft was landing, it struck a group of birds flying in from the opposite direction," he explained. "I heard a few bangs as if the birds had been drawn into the engine before I saw flames erupting from the right side."
Law enforcement and firefighting teams are currently conducting on-site investigations to ascertain the precise cause of this tragic event.
