68 Killed in Plane Crash in S. Korea
A domestic jet carrying vacationing families crashed into a hill Monday on its third attempt to land in stormy weather, killing 68 of the 110 people aboard, the airline said.
Rescuers searched through the night on a rocky, muddy hillside for bodies and survivors, on the slim chance that more somehow had lived through the southern coast crash.
A senior government official blamed pilot error for the crash.
The Asiana Boeing 737-500 was bound from Seoul to Mokpo, nearly 200 miles southwest of Seoul on the Yellow Sea, when it crashed near Haenam in heavy wind and rain 20 miles from Mokpo airport.
Although the area is remote and rugged, accessible so far only by helicopter, KBS television said two survivors hiked to Haenam seeking help. About 100 villagers then rushed to the site, joined later by 400 police and rescue officials.
The Transportation Ministry listed 51 bodies found, 44 survivors and 15 people missing early today. But Asiana later said there were 68 dead and 42 survivors. It said two of the injured had died.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
