What happened
During an early morning arrival at Seoul-Gimpo Airport following a flight from Los Angeles via Anchorage, the crew initiated an approach to runway 14. At the time of the incident, visibility was restricted to approximately 1,000 meters because of fog patches. While on final approach, the aircraft impacted the ground 90 meters before reaching the runway threshold.
Upon impact, the main landing gear assemblies were either torn from the airframe or forced into the wheel wells, though the nose gear remained undamaged. The aircraft subsequently slid approximately 1,200 meters along the ground before coming to a stop on the left side of the runway, where a fire broke out. The accident resulted in 14 fatalities, including both pilots and six crew members, as well as eight passengers. While 14 occupants managed to escape without injury, 198 others sustained various injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by the resulting flames.
Findings
Investigations into the crash indicated that a fire likely originated within a cargo compartment during the event. The primary factor contributing to the accident was an improper approach configuration by the flight crew, who continued the descent below the glide path without maintaining visual contact with the ground until the aircraft struck the terrain.