An Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft crash landed at San Francisco International Airport on Saturday, US aviation authorities said, with images showing the cabin of the plane almost completely burned out.
Two people were reported killed and 73 to 103 injured in the crash landing, a city fire department dispatcher said.
Most of the injuries were minor, but reports were continuing to come in, the dipatcher said.
The Boeing 777 was carrying more 300 people from Seoul when it crashed while landing in clear skies on Saturday morning.
The airport has been closed until further notice, US Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsfor told AFP, after confirming the crash landing.
California highway police also temporarily closed all roads near the facility -- a major international hub, especially for flights to and from Asia.
Local media reported there were around 290 people aboard and multiple witnesses said the plane had approached the runway at an awkward angle, with some onlookers saying they heard a loud bang.
One dramatic photo tweeted earlier by someone claiming to be a survivor showed people streaming out of the jet, which was missing its tail. An inflatable slide was at the front entrance and at least part of the aircraft’s landing gear was separated from the fuselage.
“I just crash landed at SFO. Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine. I’m ok,” the survivor, David Eun, wrote.
But another photo from above showed a more distressing scene, with almost the entire roof of the plane and the cabin seating area destroyed by fire. The aircraft’s wings were still attached and other emergency exits also appeared to have been used.
Emergency crews were reporting passengers in need of burn treatment, according to Redwood City Fire Department.
The accident site was covered in white foam used by firefighters, with at least six fire trucks at the scene. However, there was little indication of whether passengers had been killed in the incident or taken away by emergency staff.
The twin-engine aircraft is one of the world’s most popular long-distance planes, often used for flights of 12 hours or more, from one continent to another.
- Agencies
