Two Killed in Plane Crash at San Francisco International Airport

Asiana Flight 214 crashed on Saturday, July 6, 2013, at 11:27 am on the runway at San Francisco International Airport. Out of the 305 people aboard the plane, two young girls were killed, 180 were injured and 39 are still in hospitals in the San Francisco area. Flight 214 started in Shanghai, China and stopped in Seoul, South Korea. Four pilots were taking shifts in pairs of two during the 11 hour trip to San Francisco.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Deborah Hersman, the plane was flying below the target speed for landing a Boeing 777; the plane was flying at 119 mph instead of 158 mph. The NTSB has been conducting an investigation and analyzing data from recorders in the plane. It is known that the crew recognized the low speed of the plane and the pilots attempted to abort the landing while a warning notified them that the plane was going to stall.

The plane hit a seawall and the tail broke off. The back of the plane caught fire and emergency exit inflatable slides deployed from within the interior of the plane. The 12 flight attendants on the crew helped passengers evacuate the plane before leaving the aircraft. Lee Yoon Hye, a flight attendant at Asiana for 18 years, said, “The ceiling was coming down and I felt like something was dragging the plane. Behind me I couldn’t see, because it looked like there was a wall.”

Firefighters attempted to put out the fire as rescue personnel treated injuries and assisted in evacuating passengers. It is unclear whether or not one of the fatalities was caused by an emergency vehicle after the crash. Joanne Hayes White, the Chief of San Francisco Fire Department, said, “We have information and evidence to suggest that one of our fire apparatus came into contact with one of the victims at the scene. We’re working closely with the NTSB as they conduct their investigation, particularly on this aspect.”

NTSB is interviewing crew members and will be interviewing the plane’s pilot, Lee Gang-guk, today. It was Gang-guk’s first time landing a Boeing 777; however, he is an experienced pilot with other aircraft and he was being supervised by a trainer pilot. Asiana Airlines has confirmed it was the second pilot’s first flight as a trainer.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an airplane accident, it is advised that you contact an attorney that can fight to protect your legal rights. An experienced airplane accident lawyer at AA Accident Attorneys can help you receive the compensation you are entitled to. The airlines may be legally responsible and we may be able to recover expenses, including wages lost from time spent away from work and costly medical bills including visits to your doctor and surgeries.

The legal team at AA Accident Attorneys has years of legal experience representing clients in airplane accidents in the state of California. Additionally, you will not be charged for our legal services until your case is won. We offer a free evaluation; call today to discuss your case with us.