Boeing 777 plane crash-lands at San Francisco airport

**_Cathy_** · July 7th, 2013 11:30 AM

Boeing 777 plane crash-lands at San Francisco airport
7 July 2013 Last updated at 00:57 GMT

A Boeing 777 aircraft has crash-landed at San Francisco international airport, killing at least two people and injuring dozens more, officials say.

Pictures posted on Twitter showed passengers jumping down the inflatable emergency slides and leaving the area, as plumes of smoke rise from the plane.

Fire fighters and rescue teams are at the scene of the downed Asiana Airlines Flight 214, which had taken off from South Korea's capital, Seoul.
The cause of the crash is unclear. Early indications suggest the plane came in too short and hit the seawall at the airport. Eight adults and two children who suffered critical injuries are being treated at San Francisco General Hospital, hospital spokesperson Rachael Kagan said.

The plane reportedly landed and then crashed on San Francisco International Airport's Runway 28L. There were 291 passengers and 16 crew on board, Asiana said. Nationalities on board included 141 Chinese, 77 South Koreans and 61 US citizens, the airline said.

Rescue teams initially took 49 people deemed to be in a serious condition to nearby hospitals, officials said. Some 190 people walked to safety from the plane, many of whom were later treated for minor injuries. Most of the remaining passengers were waiting in the airport terminals uninjured. One person remained unaccounted for.

While the sequence of events remains unclear, it appeared the plane landed and then crashed on San Francisco International Airport's Runway 28L, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown.

Footage of the scene showed debris strewn on the runway and smoke pouring from the jet, as fire crews sprayed a white fire retardant into gaping holes in the craft's roof. One engine and the tail fin appeared to have broken away from the main wreckage.

'Out of control'
Passenger David Eun tweeted a picture of people jumping out of the plane's emergency inflatable slides and wrote: "I just crash landed at SFO. Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine. I'm ok. Surreal..."

City Mayor Ed Lee: "This is still a fluid and active scene" Mr Eun, who describes himself as a "digital media guy" and "frequent flier", added: "Fire and rescue people all over the place. They're evacuating the injured. Haven't felt this way since 9/11."

A witness to the crash, Ki Siadatan, said the plane "looked out of control" as it descended over San Francisco Bay to land just before 11:30 (18:30 GMT). "We heard a 'boom' and saw the plane disappear into a cloud of dust and smoke," he told the BBC. "There was then a second explosion." He saw events unfold from the balcony of his home in the Millbrae area of San Francisco, which overlooks the airport.

Weather conditions were fine and there was little wind, he added. Arrivals and departures at the airport have been suspended since the incident.
The twin-engine Boeing 777 has a good safety record as a long-haul aircraft and is used by many major carriers. Asiana is South Korea's second-largest airline.

BBC News - Boeing 777 plane crash-lands at San Francisco airport

**_Cathy_** · July 7th, 2013 11:41 AM

Some more pictures:

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**baludoy** · July 7th, 2013 11:53 AM

breaking news nga siya sa cnn ngayon

**black ice** · July 7th, 2013 01:09 PM

2 killed, 181 hurt in Asiana jet crash in San Francisco

mas mahusay pa din ang pilot ng cebu pac..

**Retz** · July 7th, 2013 07:59 PM

2 chinese nationals got killed in the plane crash. Engine failure ba?

**Monseratto** · July 7th, 2013 08:30 PM

The pilot came in too low daw. Tail struck the runway embankment and got separated. Yung 2 Chinese teens were seated at the rear of the plane. First fatal accident for the Boeing 777 since introduction and third hull loss to an accident.

**Retz** · July 7th, 2013 08:40 PM

RIP to the two(2) chinese nationals who got killed.

**CVT** · July 7th, 2013 08:55 PM

I am shocked. RIP...

Filipinos from the US are fond of taking Korean Airlines(from JFK). Am not so sure about Asiana in the West Coast (SFO)....

We have people from Corporate (CA area) traveling to South Korea regularly. Am not sure though what airlines they usually take....

Yes, normally planes take a loop at San Mateo/Millbrae area approaching the runway from the Bay....

19.9K

**_Cathy_** · July 7th, 2013 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by CVT

I am shocked. RIP...

Filipinos from the US are fond of taking Korean Airlines(from JFK). Am not so sure about Asiana in the West Coast (SFO)....

19.9K

Yes that is true! My family takes Korean Airlines, Asiana or JAL when going to the East Coast. Mura kasi

PAL for SFO or LAX kasi direct flight.

**boybi** · July 8th, 2013 12:28 AM

Buti nalang hndi CebuPac ang airline, kundi nasunog na lahat ng passengers.

The 777 was designed to evacuate all its passengers in less than 90sec., even if half its doors are inoperable. Pag CebuPac yan, 9 min na hindi pa nila alam kung ano gagawin.

Kudos to the crew for having the presence of mind in following the protocol in emergency situations like this. As for the pilots, it's still under investigation whether the crash was caused by pilot error for landing short of the runway, or if there were other troubles that caused the plane to land like that.