Authorities said Sunday that a deadly plane crash in Muan could have been caused by a collision with a flock of birds leading to a malfunction of the landing gear.
A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, Thailand, veered off the runway during landing at Muan International Airport this morning and collided with the fence.
The flight, carrying 175 passengers and six crew, crashed at around 9 a.m.
Emergency services have reported 28 deaths as of 10:30 a.m., though the status of the other passengers is as-yet unconfirmed.
"Birdstrike" incidents occur when an airplane collides with a flock of birds or when birds enter an engine, often causing mechanical failures. Police and fire officials are continuing to assess the damage and investigate the incident.
jychoi@heraldcorp.com
