Jul 28, 2011

An Asiana Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter has crashed into the sea off South Korea’s large southern island of Jeju.

Two on board, captain and co-pilot, remain missing but South Korea’s coast guard has discovered wreckage and an oil slick at sea, which is understood to be from the aircraft, says Asiana.

It says the Asiana 747-400 freighter, local registration HL7604, was about 76 miles southwest of Jeju Airport when, at 04:11hr local time today (July 28), it “reported control problems at an altitude of 7,600 feet and was diverted to Jeju Airport”. Contact was then lost with the aircraft, it adds. The aircraft had departed at 02:47hr from Seoul Incheon International Airport and was due to arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 04:33hr, says the airline.

Within minutes of losing contact, a coast guard rescue team was dispatched, and at 05:30hr the airline moved into crisis management mode, it says.

The airline has highlighted that the captain of the aircraft had nearly 7,000 flight hours on 747s. The co-pilot had nearly 500 flight hours on the type. It also says: “All cargo was loaded in accordance with IATA regulations.”

Boeing has issued a statement saying: “The Boeing Company wishes to extend its profound condolences to the families and friends of the crewmembers lost in the Asiana Airlines accident off the coast of South Korea. Boeing stands ready to send a team to provide technical support to the investigation at the invitation of the authorities.”

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/awx/2011/07/28/awx_07_2...