South Korean plane crash played out over flight's final 4 minutes

Bird strike cited as possible cause; barriers on runway may have worsened outcome

20240106 South Korea Airport Ground

Offerings of food and drink are laid out for victims of Jeju Air flight 2216 near the crash site at Muan International Airport in South Korea, with messages also attached to a fence. (Photo by Nami Matsuura)

NAMI MATSUURA, Nikkei staff writer

MUAN, South Korea -- The year-end crash of a South Korean passenger plane at Muan International Airport, which killed 179 passengers and crew members, was a catastrophic accident for which multiple unexpected abnormalities have been identified as possible contributing factors.

In the aftermath, attention has been focused on what happened in the final four minutes between the head pilot's "Mayday" call and the eventual explosion of the aircraft.

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