Korean Air Lines Flight 015

Korean Air Lines

Industry	Airline
Headquarters	Seoul , South Korea
Products	Passenger air transport

Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence Korean Air Lines Flight 015 was a scheduled passenger service operated by a Boeing 747-200 flying from Los Angeles International Airport in California to Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, with an intermediate stopover in Anchorage, Alaska. On 19 November 1980, the aircraft crashed during its landing attempt. Out of the total 226 individuals aboard, 15 lost their lives in this tragedy. The airplane sustained irreparable damage.

Aircraft

The airplane involved was a relatively new Boeing 747-2B5B, registered as HL7445 and powered by four Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7Q engines. Its manufacturer's serial number was 21773/366.

Accident

During the approach to Runway 14 at Gimpo International Airport, conditions included calm winds and fog limiting visibility to approximately 1,000 meters. The crew of Korean Air Lines Flight 015 reported experiencing control difficulties shortly before touchdown. The aircraft landed about 90 meters short of the runway threshold and collided with an embankment slope. This impact caused the main landing gear to be forced into the cargo hold, rupturing it. Subsequently, the aircraft slid along the runway on its belly, igniting a fire. Evacuation procedures were carried out; however, six crew members and nine passengers perished, while four passengers sustained serious injuries.

Cause

The aircraft impacted the ground before reaching the runway, primarily due to pilot mistakes amid poor visibility conditions, further exacerbated by the crew's challenges in managing the plane.

References

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