Hero pilot’s ‘beautiful’ emergency landing was foiled by concrete wall ‘which should not have been there,’ killing 179
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THE pilot on the South Korean plane crash completed a “beautiful” emergency landing but was it was foiled by a deadly concrete wall, aviation experts said. Heroic efforts saw the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 come to a virtual halt after it was crippled by a bird strike before landing on its belly and erupting into a fireball - leaving 179 dead.
![[The plane exploded into a fireball after it collided into a concrete wall after a heroic emergency landing]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1d0fcb48-68d4-4777-adf8-65aa1590ad19.jpg?strip=all&w=932)
Heartbroken families and officials are now facing a desperate hunt for answers over the crash. Investigators are set to comb through the charred wreckage to find out how the deadliest air disaster of 2024 could have happened. One of Britain’s most experienced aviation experts has blamed the tragedy on the airport’s fatal design flaw.
![[The pilot on the South Korean plane crash completed a 'beautiful' landing as the jet slide on its belly across the runway]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image_ef3ec1.jpeg?strip=all&w=960)
The plane exploded when it collided with a brick or concrete wall “which should not have been there” at the end of the 2,800-metre runway. David Learmount of Flight International Magazine said this runway landing beacon was improperly placed at the airport and rendered the pilot's heroic landing in vain.
![[The plane collided with a concrete wall at the end of the runway before exploding]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image_5931ee.jpeg?strip=all&w=960)
He added that the structures are usually collapsible in other airports rather than being concrete to prevent fatal collisions. David said: “I don’t know what standards they think were appropriate but other airports do not put the instrument landing system antennae in a concrete structure.
![[Investigators are set to comb through the charred wreckage to find out how the deadliest air disaster of 2024 could have happened]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/jeju-air-flight-bangkok-thailand-960403402_06a177.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“What we saw in the video was the aircraft being put down beautifully - it was perfectly level. “It was sliding on its belly and going very fast, possibly because the pilot couldn’t get the flaps down because the hydraulics had failed after a bird strike.
![[A relative of a passenger cries following the crash]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image_d212f6.jpeg?strip=all&w=960)
