The devastating crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 at Muan International Airport claimed the lives of 179 people, marking South Korea's deadliest air disaster. Here's a chilling timeline of the flight's final moments, reconstructed from information provided by South Korea’s transport ministry and fire authorities:
8:54 a.m. - Muan airport air traffic control grants Flight 7C2216 clearance to land on runway 01.
8:57 a.m. - Air traffic control issues a "caution - bird activity" advisory to the incoming flight.
8:59 a.m. - The pilot of Flight 7C2216 reports a bird strike, declares an emergency with the distress call "Mayday Mayday Mayday" and "Bird strike, bird strike, go-around."
9:00 a.m. - The pilot initiates a go-around, aborting the landing on runway 01, and requests permission to land on runway 19, the opposite end of the airport's single runway.
9:01 a.m. - Air traffic control authorizes the landing on runway 19.
9:02 a.m. - Flight 7C2216 makes contact with runway 19, but significantly down the runway, at approximately 1,200 meters (1,312 yards) instead of the usual touchdown zone.
9:02:34 a.m. - The "crash bell" alarm is activated at the airport's fire rescue unit, signaling a potential emergency.
9:02:55 a.m. - The airport fire rescue unit completes the deployment of its fire rescue equipment, racing towards the scene.
9:03 a.m. - Tragically, Flight 7C2216 crashes into an embankment after overshooting the runway.
9:10 a.m. - The South Korean Transport Ministry receives the official accident report from airport authorities.
9:23 a.m. - Rescuers manage to extract one male survivor from the wreckage and transport him to a temporary medical facility.
9:38 a.m. - Muan airport is officially closed in the wake of the disaster.
9:50 a.m. - A second survivor, also a male, is rescued from the tail section of the plane.
This timeline paints a grim picture of the rapid unfolding of events that led to the catastrophic crash. The initial bird strike, the go-around procedure, and the eventual runway overrun all occurred within a matter of minutes, leaving little time for the crew to react and avert disaster. The investigation into the crash will undoubtedly focus on these critical moments to determine the exact cause of this tragic incident.
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