An investigation into South Korea’s deadliest air catastrophe has discovered {that a} pilot mistakenly shut off the improper engine, native media has reported.
All however two of the 181 folks on board Jeju Air Flight 2216 had been killed when it crashed right into a barrier in December whereas trying to land at Muan Worldwide Airport, following a chicken strike on one in all its engines.
The discharge of the investigation, scheduled for final weekend, has been delayed after protests from the households of the victims who had been briefed on its findings.
They accused investigators of pinning the blame on the pilot whereas ignoring different contributing components.
On the morning of 29 December, the pilots of Flight 2216 reported a chicken strike and made a mayday name as their plane approached the runway.
The pilots then tried to land from the wrong way. Video confirmed the aircraft making a stomach touchdown – with out touchdown gear – and skidding alongside the runway right into a concrete barrier.
The plane’s two engines had been despatched to France in March for evaluation. The current findings from South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board discovered {that a} pilot had turned off the left engine – which had no defects – as a substitute of the correct engine, which was severely broken by the chicken strike.
Nonetheless, households of the victims mentioned that the report didn’t point out the concrete barrier on the finish of the runway, which they argued is what made the accident so devastating.
“The bereaved households search a good and clear investigation into the accident,” they mentioned in an announcement, and urged investigators to conduct a press briefing “solely after a full and cautious examination has been accomplished”.
In an announcement on Sunday, the Jeju Air pilots’ union equally criticised the current findings for allegedly specializing in pilots’ misjudgement and downplaying different contributing components.
A supply with information of the probe, nevertheless, instructed Reuters that investigators wouldn’t change their findings as that they had “clear proof and backup knowledge”.
Following the crash, South Korea’s transport ministry mentioned in January that it will take away concrete limitations at seven airports.
In Could, households of the victims lodged a prison grievance towards Jeju Air chief govt Kim E-bae, citing skilled negligence. Mr Kim is amongst 24 folks being investigated over the accident.
