47 Hurt as Korean Air Jetliner Crashes at Seoul

A Korean Air passenger plane aborted takeoff from Kimpo Airport and crashed in flames today, injuring 47 of the 51 people on board, police said.

No deaths were reported, but police said several of the injured were in serious condition at area hospitals with burns and broken bones.

Police investigators inspected the scene to determine why the 80-seat, Fokker F-28 jet failed to clear the runway and crashed into a field.

The plane, with 46 passengers and a crew of five, tried to leave Kimpo Airport at 7:45 a.m. in dense fog for the coastal city of Kangnung, 105 miles east of Seoul.

Cho Chung Sun, 38, a passenger, told of the crash:

“The sound of the engines was growing louder, and I thought the plane was about to climb, clearing the runway,” she said. “Then all of a sudden there was a bang and the ceiling of the cabin sank and flames burst out from the front section.”

Cho Hyong Do, 30, another passenger, said the plane shook badly before crashing.

“At the moment of takeoff it was as if the plane’s wings were fluttering, to the right and to the left, and then it crashed on its nose,” he said.

“The pilot compartment and front row seats were crushed and flames started shortly after,” he said. “I felt pain already but jumped from the plane in a desperate attempt to survive.”

The fire was put out in 20 minutes by airport firefighters, officials said.

A police investigator said that aircraft shaking indicated possible engine trouble.