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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The end of 2024 witnessed a series of aviation incidents worldwide, ranging from runway skids to devastating crashes, resulting in the loss of many lives. These events underscore the persistent challenges in maintaining and improving aviation safety.
The most tragic of these incidents was the Jeju Air crash in South Korea on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at Muan International Airport. This accident claimed the lives of 179 people, including passengers and crew.
Prior to this tragedy, several other plane incidents occurred in various countries. The following is a summary of these events:
1. Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash in Kazakhstan
On Wednesday, December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane en route from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed in Kazakhstan, carrying 62 passengers and five crew members. Kazakh authorities reported that 29 passengers survived, while 38 perished.
Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, departing from Baku deviated from its planned route to Grozny, Chechnya, in southern Russia, before crashing approximately 3 km from Aktau, Kazakhstan, on the opposite bank of the Caspian Sea. The plane crash resulted in at least 38 fatalities and 29 survivors.
The reason for the plane's deviation across the Caspian Sea remains under investigation. Reuters reported that the Russian Aviation Regulatory Agency indicated the plane altered its course due to dense fog and local warnings about Ukrainian drones.
However, four sources familiar with the initial findings of the Azerbaijani investigation informed Reuters that the plane was mistakenly shot down by Russian air defenses. Photos of the wreckage reportedly show evidence of shrapnel damage to the aircraft's tail.
2. Air Canada Skids in Halifax
On Saturday evening, December 28, 2024, local time, an Air Canada plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Canada after experiencing damage to its landing gear.
According to Antara news agency, Air Canada flight 2259, originating from St. John’s International Airport, encountered landing difficulties at 9:30 a.m. AST (0130 GMT Sunday), causing the plane to skid and the engine to catch fire.
Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene to ensure the safety of all passengers. Following the landing, all passengers were safely evacuated and transported to a hangar for medical checks. No fatalities were reported in this incident.
3. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Skids Off Runway in Norway
As reported by NDTV World, a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-800 bound for Amsterdam skidded off the runway at Oslo Torp Sandefjord Airport in Norway after an emergency landing on Saturday night, December 28, 2024. The aircraft experienced a hydraulic failure shortly after takeoff from Oslo Airport, prompting the crew to divert the flight to Sandefjord Airport, located 110 kilometers south of Oslo.
The KLM plane was carrying 176 passengers and six crew members. Despite the technical issues, the plane successfully landed at Sandefjord Airport. However, upon landing, the aircraft skidded off the runway and came to rest on soft grass near the taxiway.
Video footage of the landing and subsequent evacuation, using a mobile ladder provided by emergency responders, circulated widely on social media. All 182 individuals on board were confirmed safe and unharmed.
KLM issued a statement confirming the incident, explaining that a loud noise was heard during takeoff, necessitating the diversion. The statement further indicated that the pilot lost control of the aircraft during landing, causing it to skid onto the grass adjacent to the runway, as reported by NOS.
4. Jeju Air Crash
The Jeju Air crash became the deadliest aviation accident in South Korean history, tragically claiming 179 lives. The plane landed at Muan International Airport, skidded off the end of the runway, and then exploded after colliding with a barrier wall.
The Jeju Air flight, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, was en route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan, South Korea. According to CNA, officials reported that the control tower had warned the plane about a potential bird strike during its initial landing attempt at approximately 9 a.m.
Minutes later, the pilot issued a "mayday" call and attempted a second landing. Video footage shows the plane approaching at high speed with its landing gear still retracted, attempting a belly landing. The aircraft then struck the concrete barrier wall and exploded. Tragically, 179 of the 181 people on board perished, while the two survivors were hospitalized in intensive care for their injuries.
Reuters | Antara | Suci Sekarwati | Linda Lestari | Yolanda Agne | Dewi Rina Cahyani contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor’s Choice: Jeju Air, the Airline Behind South Korea's 'Deadliest Air Crash'
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