NYT pointed to a fatal combination of factors in the Jeju Air plane crash

The crew of the Jeju Air plane that crashed in South Korea's Muang may have had a fatal combination of factors contributing to the crash. This was reported by The New York Times on December 30.

As noted in the publication, experts named a combination of factors and conditions as the cause of the disaster. Thus, the pilot of the plane at landing could not have full control over the engines and landing gear. This deprived him of the main means of slowing down the speed of the airplane. In addition, he also failed to activate the flaps, which would have also helped reduce the airplane's speed.

"Analysts said that if both engines had been disabled, the pilot would still have been able to manually lower the landing gear. But given how hastily the pilot tried to land, he may not have had enough time," the publication noted.

In addition, the concrete structure into which the plane crashed was also a key cause of the crash. As experts noted, the rules for installing such structures may be revised after the circumstances of the Muang tragedy are clarified.

Jeju Air may also be investigated by authorities because its airplanes have the highest number of flight hours than its competitors. For example, the plane had flown within South Korea as well as to China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Japan within 48 hours before the crash in Muang.

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At least 32 people survived the crash, all of whom were in the tail section of the

The crash of the Jeju Air plane while landing at Muang airport became known earlier in the day. Authorities are investigating the scene to determine the exact cause of the crash, and rescue operations are also underway. According to the airport authority, the plane crashed on landing on the fuselage due to a landing gear failure before it could shed speed. There were 181 people on board the airliner: 175 passengers (173 South Korean citizens, two from Thailand) and six crew members, two of whom survived. The bodies of all 179 dead have been recovered.

South Korean authorities have retrieved black boxes from the plane, including the flight recorder and sound recorder. The country has declared seven days of national mourning in connection with the crash.