South Korea special: Plane crash kills 179

Summary

Global News Podcast Summary: "South Korea Special: Plane Crash Kills 179"

Release Date: December 29, 2024
Host: Paul Moss, BBC World Service

---

1. Overview of the Tragic Plane Crash

On December 29, 2024, a devastating plane crash occurred at South Korea's Mu'an International Airport, resulting in the loss of 181 lives. The flight, operated by Jeju Air, was en route from Bangkok to South Korea, predominantly carrying holidaymakers returning from Christmas breaks. This incident marks the deadliest air accident in South Korean history.

Key Details:

• Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
• Casualties: 179 fatalities, 2 survivors (flight attendants)
• Location: Mu'an International Airport, South Korea
• Flight Origin: Bangkok, Thailand

Paul Moss provides a vivid description of the crash scene:
"Looking at footage of the crash at South Korea's Mu an airport, it seems clear the plane was still intact when it touched down. But it's also clear that something had gone terribly wrong with its undercarriage. The fuselage scrapes along the Runway, the pilots apparently unable to keep control. And within seconds you see the Boeing 737 strike a wall and burst into flames." [00:38]

---

2. On-Site Reports and Immediate Aftermath

Reporter: Jean Mackenzie
Timestamp: [02:50]

Jean Mackenzie reports from the crash site, highlighting the extensive damage:

• Crash Site: The tail of the plane remains intact, while the rest of the aircraft is heavily fractured and engulfed in flames.
• Rescues: Only two flight attendants survived by swiftly exiting the burning aircraft and were hospitalized.
• Search Efforts: Investigators are meticulously combing the area for debris and identifying victims amidst the devastation.

Jean Mackenzie describes the scene:
"This is the only part of the aircraft that is now still intact. The rest is so fractured, so splintered, that the fire service says it is unidentifiable." [02:50]

---

3. Airline and Official Responses

Jeju Air Statements:

• CEO Kim Lee Bye expressed profound sorrow and extended condolences:
  "I would like to express my deepest condolences and apologies to the passengers who have passed away due to this accident and to their family members. Jeju Air will make every effort to resolve the situation quickly and to support the family members of the passengers." [05:29]

• Boeing's Position: The manufacturer confirmed support and condolences:
  "We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the incident."

Local Authorities:

• Chief Lee Jong Hyun of Mu'an Fire Station highlighted potential causes:
  "We are presuming the cause of the accident to be a bird strike or deteriorating weather conditions, and the exact cause will be determined by a further forensic and joint investigation." [00:38]

---

4. Analysis of Possible Causes

Expert Insights:

Alistair Rosenschein, a former Boeing 737 pilot, provides an analysis:
"Gray, it's near impossible to control an aircraft on the landing roll as the speed reduces with the gear up. So that would explain why the aircraft skidded off to one side. The reports of a bird strike could result in a worst case scenario in loss of hydraulics as well if both engines are severely damaged." [06:51]

He further explains the challenges faced during the landing without functioning landing gear:
"If the gear doesn't come down, that isn't the issue. The issue will be the actual touchdown, the Runway. So what you want to do is choose an airfield with as long a Runway as possible." [07:56]

Rosenschein emphasizes the unpredictability of bird strikes and the complexities they introduce:
"They are unpredictable. They can happen pretty much anywhere in the world." [06:51]

---

5. Impact on South Korea Amidst Political Turmoil

The plane crash exacerbates existing tensions within South Korea, a nation already grappling with political instability.

Political Context:

• Ousted President: The previous president was removed following an attempt to impose martial law, leading to significant unrest.
• Acting President: Newly appointed, the acting president has only been in office for 48 hours and is now facing the monumental task of managing the crisis.
• Protests and Policies: Concurrently, external pressures such as the impending U.S. presidential changes and discussions about the presence of U.S. troops add to the nation's stress.

Reporter: Hyung Jung Kim
Timestamp: [09:45]

Yoona Koo reports on the societal impact:
"Korean society is in deep shock right now and there is an economic and political crisis happening right now. And of this accident, all of the South Korean people are mourning and the people are also considering not to organize the ongoing protest and they are now canceling all the rallies." [09:45]

The tragedy has led to nationwide mourning, with authorities contemplating the cancellation of New Year events to honor the victims.

---

6. Humanizing the Tragedy

Reporter: Yoona Koo
Timestamp: [04:36]

Yoona Koo captures the emotional turmoil of the victims' families:
"Even though the authorities have announced there are more than 170 deaths confirmed among 181 passengers, most of them still remain unidentified. So the family here are deeply in sorrow. However, still trying to hear the updates from the authorities." [04:45]

The scene at the airport is heart-wrenching, with families grappling with loss and uncertainty:
"And even from far away, you can hear many families crying and screaming and falling down to the floor." [04:45]

---

7. Moving Forward: Investigations and Support

Despite the extensive damage, authorities have initiated a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. The recovery of the flight deck data recorder and cockpit voice recorder is anticipated to provide crucial insights.

Key Points:

• Investigative Efforts: Joint forensic investigations are underway to piece together the sequence of events leading to the crash.
• Support Measures: Jeju Air and Boeing have pledged support to the affected families, while the South Korean government oversees recovery operations and extends condolences.

Paul Moss concludes:
"South Korea is obviously still digesting what happened, but this is a country which was already in turmoil. ... The death of so many people in an airplane crash would obviously be a blow to any country. But this accident has come at a particularly difficult time for South Korea." [09:02]

---

Notable Quotes

• Paul Moss:
  "Looking at footage of the crash ... the pilots apparently unable to keep control." [00:38]

• Alistair Rosenschein:
  "It's near impossible to control an aircraft on the landing roll as the speed reduces with the gear up." [06:51]

• Kim Lee Bye (Jeju Air CEO):
  "I would like to express my deepest condolences and apologies to the passengers who have passed away due to this accident and to their family members." [06:03]

• Yoona Koo:
  "Most of the families do not seem interested in it [foods and drinks]. And even from far away, you can hear many families crying and screaming and falling down to the floor." [04:45]

---

Conclusion

The Global News Podcast's special edition on the South Korean plane crash provides a comprehensive overview of a tragic event unfolding amidst a politically unstable landscape. Through on-the-ground reporting, expert analysis, and heartfelt human stories, the podcast captures the multifaceted impact of the disaster on both a national and personal level. As investigations continue, the world watches South Korea navigate this profound loss while addressing its internal challenges.

---

Produced by:
Isabella Jewell
Edited by: Karen Martin
Mixed by: James Piper

*For comments or to share your thoughts on this episode, email us at globalpodcastbc.co.uk or find us on Twitter @globalnewspod.

Transcript

[Paul Moss]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It is Ryan Seacrest here. Everybody needs some variety in life. That's what I love about Chumba Casino. They know how to keep things fresh and exciting. All their games are free to play, like spin slots, bingo and solitaire. You can claim free daily login bonuses too. And they release new games every week. So spice things up with chumbaccasino.com now for your chance to redeem some serious prizes. Sponsored by Chumba Casino. No purchase necessary. VGW Group Void where prohibited by law 18 terms and conditions apply.

[Paul Moss]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Paul Moss and in this special edition recorded on Sunday 29th December at 1230 GMT, we have the latest from Wuhan Airport in South Korea, where a plane has crashed on landing, killing nearly 180 people. The country's acting president has declared a period of national mourning. We also hear from a pilot who tells us why the crew may have had no chance to save the stricken aircraft. Plus, we ask what this accident means for South Korea, a nation already in the midst of turmoil. Looking at footage of the crash at South Korea's Mu an airport, it seems clear the plane was still intact when it touched down. But it's also clear that something had gone terribly wrong with its undercarriage. The fuselage scrapes along the Runway, the pilots apparently unable to keep control. And within seconds you see the Boeing 737 strike a wall and burst into flames. 181 people were on board the flight from Bangkok, most of them thought to be holidaymakers who'd gone for a Christmas break. It was left to an airport official to read out a list of the dead to family members who'd gathered there. Only two people escaped from the burning plane, making this the deadliest air accident in South Korea. And establishing exactly what happened may be a challenge given given the extensive damage the aircraft suffered. But there is already speculation about what went wrong, as we heard from the chief of the local Muon fire station, Lee Jong Hyun, when he spoke at a news conference. We are presuming the cause of the accident to be a bird strike or deteriorating weather conditions, and the exact cause will be determined by a further forensic and joint investigation. As a person who's seen the site, I can only say I'm sad. Our correspondent Jean Mackenzie is at Moon International Airport and sent this report.

[Jean Mackenzie]

We're at the perimeter of the airport now, and this wall just behind us is where the plane crashed when it overshot the Runway and Just poking up behind us, you can see the blackened, charred tail of the plane. This is the only part of the aircraft that is now still intact. The rest is so fractured, so splintered, that the fire service says it is unidentifiable. But just over to the right of me, here in the fields, we have investig combing the grasses, looking for any remnants of the plane and the passengers. This is the deadliest plane crash that has ever taken place on South Korean soil. It is assumed now that all the passengers have died. The only two people who have been rescued from the plane were two flight attendants who were sitting at the very back and were able to be taken off quickly, and they have been taken to hospital. The cause of this crash is still unknown. It is reported it is thought that the plane's landing gears failed to come down. There are also reports that just before landing, a bird got into the plane's engine and caused a fire there. Although we don't have this confirmed, and there are still big questions about what went wrong. Jeju Air is Korea's most popular budget airline. It flies to destinations all across Asia and it is a relatively safe airline. This is thought to be the only fatal accident it has had in in the almost 20 years it's been operating. And for Koreans, this is just one shock after another. The country is going through an acute political crisis at the moment after the President was ousted for trying to impose martial law here. And so the acting president, he's only been in office now in charge for 48 hours. So this is a major test for him. He has come to the airport now this afternoon where he is overseeing the recovery operations and offering support to the bereaved families.

[Paul Moss]

Jean Mackenzie. Also at the airport was Yoona koo of the BBC's Korean service. She saw hundreds gathered there, still clinging to hope.

[Yoona Koo]

Even though the authorities have announced there are more than 170 deaths confirmed among 181passengers, most of them still remain unidentified. So the family here are deeply in sorrow. However, still trying to hear the updates from the authorities. Most of the families are spending nights here waiting for the updates. And you can also see the authorities spreading out the foods and drinks to the families. However, most of the families do not seem interested in it. And even from far away, you can hear many families crying and screaming and falling down to the floor.

[Paul Moss]

Unicu the plane was one of Boeing's 737, 800 aircraft. The company has said it's in contact with Jeju Air and stands ready to support them. It said in A statement that it extends its deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the incident. Kim Lee Bye, the CEO of the airline Jeju, spoke at a press conference. He and his colleagues bowed in a sign of contrition, although they also seemed to be insisting that the plane itself was not at fault.

[Kim Lee Bye]

I would like to express my deepest condolences and apologies to the passengers who have passed away due to this accident and to their family members. Jeju Air will make every effort to resolve the situation quickly and to support the family members of the passengers. In addition, we will do our best with the government to find out the cause of the accident. We have serviced this aircraft in accordance with the maintenance program and there was no sign of any anything unusual with this plane.

[Paul Moss]

It may be unclear why the Boeing 737's undercarriage wasn't properly lowered when the plane touched down. But whatever the cause, a serious accident was almost inevitable once that happened. According to a former 737 pilot, Alistair Rosenschein, who spoke to my colleague Lucy.

[Alistair Rosenschein]

Gray, it's near impossible to control an aircraft on the landing roll as the speed reduces with the gear up. So that would explain why the aircraft skidded off to one side. The reports of a bird strike could result in a worst case scenario in loss of hydraulics as well if both engines are severely damaged. But what happened prior to the video of this aircraft landing, we don't fully know yet. They have already recovered either the flight deck data recorder or the cockpit voice recorder. They're what's known as the two black boxes, and there are reports that they've recovered those. So it is fairly certain that they'll be able to get down to the bottom of this and find out what happened and hopefully try and prevent it from happening again. But bird strikes, if it was a bird strike, they are unpredictable. They can happen pretty much anywhere in the world.

[Jean Mackenzie]

And as a pilot, what are you.

[Hyung Jung Kim]

Able to do if you don't have any landing gear in terms of any kind of control of the aircraft?

[Alistair Rosenschein]

Well, first of all, the aircraft will fly normally. If the gear doesn't come down, that isn't the issue. The issue will be the actual touchdown, the Runway. So what you want to do is choose an airfield with as long a Runway as possible. The other thing is there's a timeframe here. If the pilots had lost power on their engines due to third strike, then there'll be no time at all. They'll be coming down and landing pretty much immediately. The other thing is you don't want any rescue vehicles anywhere near the Runway during this landing of a gear up aircraft because the aircraft will be difficult to control, will almost there's a very strong likelihood it will depart the Runway. In other words, go off to the right or the left. It sounds pretty catastrophic during the flying phase of the flight in addition to the disaster during the landing row. I mean, watching the video, it looks like they've made a successful touchdown and that they are traveling down the Runway and that looks like the pilots have done a very good job up to that point. And then as the aircraft slows flows, they will no longer have control, directional control of the aircraft. And so they really are in the lap of the gods at that point.

[Paul Moss]

Alistair Rosenschein, South Korea is obviously still digesting what happened, but this is a country which was already in turmoil. There's been the declaration of martial law by one president, street protests only this weekend demanding that his stand in successor resignation. And there's Donald Trump about to take office, having said South Korea must pay for the nearly 30,000 US soldiers stationed there or else he's hinted they might come home. The death of so many people in an airplane crash would obviously be a blow to any country. But this accident has come at a particularly difficult time for South Korea. As Hyung Jung Kim, a BBC journalist in the capital Seoul told me, South.

[Yoona Koo]

Korean society is in deep shock right now and there is an economic and political crisis happening right now. And of this accident, all of the South Korean people are mourning and the people are also considering not to organize the ongoing protest and they are now canceling all the rallies. And then the decision was made to join in mourning and paying tribute to the victims of the Jeju Air passenger plane crash. And also the authorities are also considering canceling New Year events that was organized for the end of the year.

[Paul Moss]

Hyung Jung Kim and that's all from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News podcast later. If you to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk you can also find us on X@global newspod. This edition was mixed by James Piper. The producer was Isabella Jewell. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Paul Moss. Until next time. Goodbye.

[Miranda]

Yoga is more than just exercise. It's the spiritual practice that millions swear by. And in 2017, Miranda, a university tutor from London, joins a yoga school that promises profound transformation.

[Hyung Jung Kim]

It felt a really safe and welcoming space after yoga classes. I felt amazing.

[Miranda]

But soon, that calm, welcoming atmosphere leads to something far darker. A journey that leads to allegations of grooming, trafficking and exploitation across international borders.

[Hyung Jung Kim]

I don't have my passport. I don't have my phone. I don't have my bank cards. I have nothing. The passport being taken, the being in a house and not feeling like they can leave.

[Miranda]

World of Secrets is where untold stories are unveiled and hidden realities are exposed. In this new series, we're confronting the dark side of the wellness industry, where the hope of a spiritual breakthrough gives way to disturbing accusations.

[Hyung Jung Kim]

You just get sucked in so gradually and it's done so skillfully that you don't realize and it's like this secret that's there. I wanted to believe that, you know, that whatever they were doing, even if it seemed gross to me, was for some spiritual reason that I couldn't yet understand.

[Miranda]

Revealing the hidden secrets of a global yoga network.

[Hyung Jung Kim]

I feel that I have no other choice. The only thing I can do is to speak about this and to put my reputation and everything else on the line. I want truth and justice and for other people to not be hurt, for things to be different in the future, to bring it into the light and almost alchemize some of that evil stuff.

[Miranda]

That went on and take back the power. World of secrets. Season 6 the Bad Guru Listen, wherever you get your.