Jeju Air Jet Crashes in South Korea With Over 170 Dead or Missing

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Apparent sequence of events

  • Multiple posts refer to video showing the 737 sliding down the runway with no landing gear and apparently high speed, then striking an embankment / structure and breaking up in a large fireball.
  • Reports summarized from Korean media:
    • Bird strike on right wing/engine at ~200 m on first approach.
    • Go‑around initiated; second approach attempted.
    • Engine fire and suspected loss of hydraulics/electrics; smoke/toxic gases entering cabin.
    • Emergency belly landing attempted without time for fuel dumping or special runway prep.
  • Only two survivors reported so far, both rear cabin crew; many commenters describe survival as astonishing given the footage.

Landing gear, systems, and pilot actions

  • Strong debate over whether bird strike could mechanically prevent gear deployment; several point out triple‑redundant hydraulics and gravity‑drop gear on 737NG.
  • Others note it is technically possible for crews to land gear‑up despite alarms; several historic examples are cited.
  • Discussion of cockpit warnings (“TOO LOW GEAR”, configuration warnings) and how multiple concurrent alerts plus engine issues could cause task saturation and missed cues.
  • Some speculate about an attempted late go‑around, high speed, and flaps not being deployed, but this is repeatedly labeled as provisional pending investigation.

Runway end, wall, and EMAS

  • Significant criticism of the concrete/earth structure at the runway end; some call the airport design “unbelievably awful”.
  • Others argue the berm/antenna support and thin perimeter wall likely worsened the break‑up but wouldn’t be intended as a barrier.
  • Discussion of EMAS (engineered arrestor beds): common at some airports, but apparently not installed here; several note EMAS relies on wheels and may be ineffective for gear‑up or very high‑speed overruns.

Water vs runway landing

  • Repeated question: why not ditch in nearby water?
  • Majority view: runway is always the planned option; water landings are highly risky (break‑up, drowning, delayed rescue).
  • Several note pilots may not have fully recognized the landing‑gear/config emergency or had time/altitude to choose water.

Pilot training, culture, and safety context

  • Debate over training standards and required flight hours (US vs South Korea), and whether more hours equal better crisis performance.
  • Discussion of task saturation, loss of situational awareness, and evolution from three‑crew to two‑crew cockpits.
  • Broader context: commercial flying still portrayed as extremely safe; this crash stands out because such events are now rare.