Fatal Military Airliner Crash Near Seoul (51-0137)

Incident Overview and Initial Response The aircraft was returning to Seoul with 122 soldiers on leave and a crew of seven aboard. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to 1,000 feet, the pilot reported an engine number three failure to air traffic control. The crew was granted permission to return for an emergency landing, and the pilot-in-command completed a circuit to rejoin the runway. ## Final Approach and Impact During the final approach, the pilot requested additional power and fully extended the flaps. The aircraft then stalled and crashed in a large explosion in a field located 5.6 km short of the runway. The impact forces completely destroyed the aircraft, and a post-crash fire consumed the wreckage for several hours. ## Casualties and Significance All 129 occupants on board were killed. The source states that, to date, this was the deadliest plane crash in history.