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Professionals question bird strike as cause of lethal South Korean airliner crash

Uncertainties surround the deadliest crash on South Korean soil, experts stated on Sunday, questioning initial ideas that a bird strike might have lowered Jeju Air flight 7C2216.

The obvious lack of landing gear, the timing of the twin-engine Boeing 737-800's belly-landing at Muan International Airport and the reports of a possible bird strike all raised concerns that could not yet be addressed.

The single-aisle aircraft was seen in video broadcast on regional media skidding down the runway with no noticeable landing equipment before knocking into a wall in an explosion of flame and debris.

Why didn't fire tenders lay foam on the runway? Why weren't. they in presence when the aircraft touched down? And why did the. airplane touch down up until now down the runway? And why was there a. brick wall at the end of the runway? said Airline company News editor. Geoffrey Thomas.

South Korean authorities stated they were investigating the. reason for the crash, including a possible bird strike, which. eliminated practically all the 181 individuals on the airplane.

The flight information recorder was discovered at 11:30 a.m. (0230 GMT),. about 2 and a half hours after the crash, and the cockpit. voice recorder was found at 2:24 p.m., according to South. Korea's transportation ministry.

That gives you all the specifications of all the systems of the. aircraft. The heartbeat of the airplane is on the flight information. recorder, Thomas said. The voice recorder will probably. supply the most fascinating analysis of what went on this. tragic crash.

Within a few minutes, the control tower issued a bird strike. caution, pilots declared mayday and then attempted to land,. authorities said, although it was not clear whether the aircraft. had hit any birds.

Experts stated it seemed unlikely a bird strike would have. triggered the landing gear to malfunction.

A bird strike is not unusual, issues with an. undercarriage are not uncommon. Bird strikes occur even more. often, however normally they don't trigger the loss of a plane by. themselves, Thomas stated.

Australian airline safety professional Geoffrey Dell stated, I have actually. never ever seen a bird strike prevent the landing equipment from being. extended.

Australian air travel consultant Trevor Jensen stated fire and. emergency situation services would generally be ready for a belly-landing,. so this appears to be unexpected.

A bird strike might have affected the CFM International. engines if a flock had been drawn into them however that would not. have shut them down straightaway, offering the pilots some time to. deal with the circumstance, Dell said.

It was unclear why the airplane did not slow down after it struck. the runway, Dell and Jensen stated.

Normally in a tummy landing, You are going to land on your. engines and you're going to have a bumpy ride, Thomas said.

You come in with minimum fuel, you have fire tenders in. presence, covering the runway with foam and you land at the. furthest end of the runway and normally it winds up being an OK. circumstance.

(source: Reuters)