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San Francisco plane crash investigators to begin work San Francisco plane crash investigators to begin work
(about 2 hours later)
A team of investigators was expected to start work on Sunday on the wreckage of a Boeing 777 that crashed and burst into flames as it landed at the city's international airport. A team of investigators was expected to start work on Sunday on the wreckage of a Boeing 777 that crashed and burst into flames as it landed at San Francisco's international airport.
The Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul, South Korea, had 307 people on board. Two people died and 180 were injured in the crash on Saturday.The Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul, South Korea, had 307 people on board. Two people died and 180 were injured in the crash on Saturday.
Pictures taken by survivors immediately afterwards showed passengers emerging from the aircraft and hurrying away. Thick smoke then billowed from the fuselage, and TV footage later showed the plane gutted and blackened by fire, with much of its roof gone.Pictures taken by survivors immediately afterwards showed passengers emerging from the aircraft and hurrying away. Thick smoke then billowed from the fuselage, and TV footage later showed the plane gutted and blackened by fire, with much of its roof gone.
Witnesses said as the 777 came into land its tail appeared to hit the approach area of the runway, which juts out into San Francisco Bay. Witnesses said as the 777 came in to land its tail appeared to hit the approach area of the runway, which juts out into San Francisco Bay.
The tail came off and the aircraft appeared to bounce violently, scattering debris, before coming to rest on the tarmac.The tail came off and the aircraft appeared to bounce violently, scattering debris, before coming to rest on the tarmac.
Asiana said it did not appear that the crash had been caused by mechanical failure although it declined to blame either the pilot or an error by the control tower. Asiana said it did not appear that the crash had been caused by mechanical failure although it declined to blame the pilot or an error by the control tower.
The two dead were Chinese teenagers who had been seated at the rear of the aircraft, according to government officials in Seoul and Asiana.The two dead were Chinese teenagers who had been seated at the rear of the aircraft, according to government officials in Seoul and Asiana.
"For now, we acknowledge that there were no problems caused by the 777-200 plane or [its] engines," Yoon Young-doo, the head of the airline, told a press conference on Sunday."For now, we acknowledge that there were no problems caused by the 777-200 plane or [its] engines," Yoon Young-doo, the head of the airline, told a press conference on Sunday.
Asiana said the flight, which had originated in Shanghai, China, was carrying 291 passengers and 16 crew. Most were Chinese, Korean and US nationals. Asiana said the flight, which had originated in Shanghai, was carrying 291 passengers and 16 crew. Most were Chinese, Korean and US nationals.
Dale Carnes, assistant deputy chief of the San Francisco fire department, said two people were killed in the crash, and that 49 were transported immediately to hospital with serious injuries. Another 132 people were later taken to hospitals with moderate and minor injuries. Dale Carnes, assistant deputy chief of the San Francisco fire department, said two people were killed in the crash, and that 49 were immediately taken to hospital with serious injuries. Another 132 people were later taken to hospitals with moderate and minor injuries.
Five people were in critical condition at San Francisco general hospital, according to spokeswoman. Rachael Kagan said a total of 52 people were treated for burns, fractures and internal injuries. Five people were in critical condition at San Francisco general hospital, according to a spokeswoman. Rachael Kagan said a total of 52 people were treated for burns, fractures and internal injuries.
Three people were in critical condition at Stanford hospital.Three people were in critical condition at Stanford hospital.
The crash was the first-ever fatal accident involving the Boeing 777, a popular long-range jet that has been in service since 1995. It was the first fatal commercial airline accident in the US since a regional plane operated by Colgan Air crashed in New York in 2009. The crash was the first ever fatal accident involving the Boeing 777, a popular long-range jet that has been in service since 1995. It was the first fatal commercial airline accident in the US since a regional plane operated by Colgan Air crashed in New York in 2009.
San Francisco international airport was shut down for several hours on Saturday after the crash and flights were diverted to Los Angeles, Seattle, Oakland and San Jose. By late afternoon two runways had reopened even as safety workers scoured the airfield for debris.San Francisco international airport was shut down for several hours on Saturday after the crash and flights were diverted to Los Angeles, Seattle, Oakland and San Jose. By late afternoon two runways had reopened even as safety workers scoured the airfield for debris.
One of the survivors, Benjamin Levy, told a local NBC station he believed the Asiana plane had been coming in too low.One of the survivors, Benjamin Levy, told a local NBC station he believed the Asiana plane had been coming in too low.
"I know the airport pretty well, so I realised the guy was a bit too low, too fast, and somehow he was not going to hit the runway on time, so he was too low … he put some gas and tried to go up again," he said."I know the airport pretty well, so I realised the guy was a bit too low, too fast, and somehow he was not going to hit the runway on time, so he was too low … he put some gas and tried to go up again," he said.
"But it was too late, so we hit the runway pretty bad, and then we started going up in the air again, and then landed again, pretty hard.""But it was too late, so we hit the runway pretty bad, and then we started going up in the air again, and then landed again, pretty hard."
He said he opened an emergency door and ushered people out. "When we got out there was some smoke. There was no fire then, the fire came afterward."He said he opened an emergency door and ushered people out. "When we got out there was some smoke. There was no fire then, the fire came afterward."
Photographs and TV images showed emergency chutes had been deployed from at least two of the aircraft's exits.Photographs and TV images showed emergency chutes had been deployed from at least two of the aircraft's exits.
Ying Kong of Albany, near San Francisco, who was waiting at the airport for her brother-in-law, Fawen Yan, 47, from Richmond, California, said he telephoned her after surviving the crash to say it had been "really smoky and scary". Ying Kong of Albany, near San Francisco, who was waiting at the airport for her brother-in-law, Fawen Yan, 47, from Richmond, California, said he telephoned her to say it had been "really smoky and scary".
"He feels it difficult to breathe, but he's OK," she said. "He said a lot of people had to run.""He feels it difficult to breathe, but he's OK," she said. "He said a lot of people had to run."
Vedpal Singh who was on board with his wife and son, said: "Your instincts take over. You don't know what's going on."Vedpal Singh who was on board with his wife and son, said: "Your instincts take over. You don't know what's going on."
Singh, who had his arm in a sling, told reporters he hadhis fractured collar bone. Singh, who had his arm in a sling, told reporters he had a fractured collar bone.
Asiana said the passengers included 141 Chinese, 77 South Koreans, 61 US nationals and one Japanese citizen. The airline did not give the nationality of the other passengers.Asiana said the passengers included 141 Chinese, 77 South Koreans, 61 US nationals and one Japanese citizen. The airline did not give the nationality of the other passengers.
At an evening perss briefing, the mayor of San Francisco, Ed Lee, said: "It is incredible and very lucky that we have so many survivors." At an evening press briefing, the mayor of San Francisco, Ed Lee, said: "It is incredible and very lucky that we have so many survivors."
The Asiana flight left Seoul at 5:04pm local time and arrived in San Francisco at 11:28am local time, according to a website that tracks flights.The Asiana flight left Seoul at 5:04pm local time and arrived in San Francisco at 11:28am local time, according to a website that tracks flights.
Asiana, has had two other fatal crashes in its 25-year history.Asiana, has had two other fatal crashes in its 25-year history.
A senior official for the airline said the plane was flown by Lee Jeong-min, a veteran pilot who has spent his career with Asiana. He was among four pilots onboard who rotated on two-person shifts during the 10-hour flight, the official added. A senior official for the airline said the plane was flown by Lee Jeong-min, a veteran pilot who has spent his career with Asiana. He was among four pilots on board who rotated on two-person shifts during the 10-hour flight, the official added.
Deborah Hersman, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said the US agency was sending a team of investigators to San Francisco and it was too early to determine the cause of the crash.Deborah Hersman, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said the US agency was sending a team of investigators to San Francisco and it was too early to determine the cause of the crash.
"We will be looking at everything," she said. "We have to gather the facts before we reach any conclusions.""We will be looking at everything," she said. "We have to gather the facts before we reach any conclusions."
The Federal Aviation Administration was also sending investigators, said a spokeswoman.The Federal Aviation Administration was also sending investigators, said a spokeswoman.
Boeing expressed concern for those on board the flight and added that it will provide technical assistance to the NTSB as it investigates the accident. Boeing expressed concern for those on board the flight, adding that it would provide technical assistance to the NTSB during the investigation.
A San Francisco airport spokesman said a component of the airport's instrument landing system that tracks an incoming aeroplane's glide path has been out of service in recent weeks and was not operational on Saturday.A San Francisco airport spokesman said a component of the airport's instrument landing system that tracks an incoming aeroplane's glide path has been out of service in recent weeks and was not operational on Saturday.
Pilots and air safety experts said the glide path technology was far from essential for a safe landing in good weather. But Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, a retired pilot and safety consultant who gained fame for landing a plane safely in the Hudson river in 2009, said investigators would certainly be looking into the issue.Pilots and air safety experts said the glide path technology was far from essential for a safe landing in good weather. But Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, a retired pilot and safety consultant who gained fame for landing a plane safely in the Hudson river in 2009, said investigators would certainly be looking into the issue.
"The pilots would have had to rely solely on visual cues to fly the proper glide path to the runway, and not have had available to them the electronic information that they typically have even in good weather at most major airports," he told a local TV news channel."The pilots would have had to rely solely on visual cues to fly the proper glide path to the runway, and not have had available to them the electronic information that they typically have even in good weather at most major airports," he told a local TV news channel.
A British Airways 777-200ER crash-landed a few yards short of a runway at Heathrow airport in 2008. All on board survived. Investigators blamed the crash on fuel blockages caused by ice particles formed during a flight from Beijing – a finding that led to changes in the design of the Rolls-Royce engines used on some 777s.A British Airways 777-200ER crash-landed a few yards short of a runway at Heathrow airport in 2008. All on board survived. Investigators blamed the crash on fuel blockages caused by ice particles formed during a flight from Beijing – a finding that led to changes in the design of the Rolls-Royce engines used on some 777s.
The Asiana 777-200ER that crashed in San Francisco on Saturday was powered by engines from Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies.The Asiana 777-200ER that crashed in San Francisco on Saturday was powered by engines from Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies.
South Korean financial regulators said in a statement that the plane's insurance was backed by nine companies including LIG.South Korean financial regulators said in a statement that the plane's insurance was backed by nine companies including LIG.
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