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

Questions over the crash of Jeju Air flight 2216 at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Dec. 29 are focused on the final four minutes of its journey. Part of the crash site is visible on Jan. 4. (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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