A Jeju Air passenger jet from South Korea crashed during its landing at Muan International Airport on Sunday, claiming 179 lives in the nation’s deadliest air disaster.
Here is a timeline of the final moments of Flight 7C2216, as reported by South Korea’s transport ministry and fire authorities:
All times are Korea Standard Time (GMT+9):
- 8:54 a.m.: Muan Airport’s air traffic control clears the aircraft to land on Runway 01, oriented at 10 degrees east of north.
- 8:57 a.m.: Air traffic control issues a “caution – bird activity” advisory.
- 8:59 a.m.: The pilot of Flight 7C2216 reports a bird strike, declares an emergency with “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday,” and requests a go-around.
- 9:00 a.m.: The flight initiates a go-around and requests clearance to land on Runway 19, approaching from the opposite end of the airport’s single runway.
- 9:01 a.m.: Air traffic control grants clearance to land on Runway 19.
- 9:02 a.m.: The plane touches down at approximately the 1,200-meter (1,312-yard) mark of the 2,800-meter (3,062-yard) runway.
- 9:02:34 a.m.: Air traffic control triggers the “crash bell” alert for the airport fire rescue team.
- 9:02:55 a.m.: The fire rescue team deploys its equipment to respond to the emergency.
- 9:03 a.m.: The aircraft crashes into an embankment after overshooting the runway.
- 9:10 a.m.: Airport authorities report the accident to the Transport Ministry.
- 9:23 a.m.: A male survivor is rescued and transported to a temporary medical facility.
- 9:38 a.m.: Muan Airport is officially closed.
- 9:50 a.m.: A second survivor is rescued from the tail section of the aircraft.
