Plane Crash: South Korea Begins Lifting Jeju Air Wreckage
South Korean investigators have commenced the process of lifting the wreckage of the Jeju Air plane that crashed earlier this week, killing 179 people.
The ill-fated flight, carrying 181 passengers and crew from Thailand to South Korea, issued a mayday call before belly-landing and colliding with a barrier at Muan International Airport on Sunday. Only two flight attendants survived the tragic accident.
Authorities are yet to determine the exact cause of the crash. However, preliminary investigations suggest a possible bird strike, faulty landing gear, and the aircraft striking a runway installation as contributing factors.
On Friday, a large yellow crane was deployed to lift parts of the burned-out wreckage as recovery efforts intensified. Na Won-ho, the police head of investigations for South Jeolla Province, confirmed the operation at a press conference held at the crash site.
“Today, we will lift the tail section of the plane. We expect there may be remains found in that section,” Na stated. “For all that to be complete and to have the results, we must wait until tomorrow.”
All 179 victims have been identified, and some bodies have already been released to their families for funeral preparations. However, due to the severe impact of the crash, officials have cautioned that some bodies suffered extreme damage, making identification and recovery a complex process.
Investigators continue to work meticulously to preserve evidence while ensuring the victims’ remains are handled with care.
