South Korea plane crash: Jeju Air pilot was trying to belly land after landing gear failed but couldn't slow down aircraft

The pilot of Jeju Air flight 2216 that crashed in South Korea on Sunday was attempting a belly landing after the plane’s landing gear failed, according to reports. However, the plane veered off the runway, colliding with the airport fence before exploding into a fireball.

While the exact cause of the accident has not been determined, authorities believe the pilots failed to reduce the aircraft's speed as it touched down, reported South Korean news agency Yonhap. The plane overshot the runway before hitting the airport structure at the runway's end. The collision caused severe damage to the fuselage, triggering a fire. 

This was also the second attempt at landing. The Jeju Air flight's first attempt to touch down failed due to landing gear malfunctioning. The aircraft was then forced to "go-around", a standard aviation maneuver where pilots abort a landing attempt and circle for another try. 

Also read: Video | Plane crashes in South Korea after landing goes wrong; 29 dead

Authorities believe a bird strike may have caused the landing gear malfunction. Yonhap also quoted eyewitnesses who said the plane's landing gear, such as tires, was inactivated. The witnesses also reported hearing loud "bang" noises before the aircraft struck the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces and bursting into flames.

Over 42 people reportedly died in the collision, almost all of them Koreans and the casualties are likely to rise. The deceased were reportedly those who were seated at the tail section and the casualties are likely to increase. Though the fire had been put out, officials were still trying to pull people from the wreckage. Many bodies are still trapped inside the aircraft’s fuselage.