(Reuters) -South Korea released on Monday a preliminary report on its investigation into a Jeju Air crash on Dec. 29 at Muan International Airport that killed 179 people in the deadliest air disaster on the country’s soil.
The following are the final minutes of Flight 7C2216 as provided by the preliminary report, South Korea’s transport ministry and fire authorities.
All times are Korea Standard Time (GMT+9).
8:54:43 a.m. – Jeju Air 7C2216 contacts Muan airport air traffic control as it makes the final approach and is given clearance to land on runway 01, which is orientated at 10 degrees east of north.
8:57:50 a.m. – Air traffic control gives “caution – bird activity” advisory.
8:58:11 a.m. – Jeju Air pilots are heard talking about spotting a flock of birds under the aircraft.
8:58:50 a.m. – The aircraft’s flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) stop recording. At the moment both blackboxes stop recording, the aircraft is flying at the speed of 161 knots (298 km/h or 185 mph) at an altitude of 498 ft (152 metres).
8:58:56 a.m. – Flight 7C2216 pilot declares emergency Mayday and tells air traffic control the aircraft is on a go-around due to bird strike.
9:00 a.m. – After initiating a go-around, Flight 7C2216 requests clearance to land on runway 19, which is by approach from the opposite end of the airport’s single runway.
9:01 a.m. – Air traffic control authorises landing on runway 19.
9:02 a.m. – Flight 7C2216 makes contact with runway at about the 1,200m (1,312 yard) point of the 2,800m (3,062 yard) runway.
9:02:34 a.m. – Air traffic control alerts “crash bell” at airport fire rescue unit.
9:02:55 a.m. – Airport fire rescue unit completes deploying fire rescue equipment.
9:02:57 a.m. – Flight 7C2216 crashes into embankment after over-shooting the runway.
9:10 a.m. – The Transport Ministry receives an accident report from airport authorities.
9:23 a.m. – One male rescued and transported to a temporary medical facility.
9:38 a.m. – Muan airport is closed.
9:50 a.m. – Rescue completed of a second person from inside tail section of the plane.
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee, Hyunjoo Jin, Ju-min Park and Hyonhee Shin; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Stephen Coates)
