A passenger jet has crashed at San Francisco airport, with black smoke seen billowing from the wreckage.
from the wreckage.
The Boeing 777, which had flown from Seoul, was operated by Asiana Airlines.
Clouds of thick black smoke were seen billowing from the site and emergency
services were heading to the scene at San Francisco International Airport.
The US Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the Asiana Airlines plane had
crashed, and it was not known if anyone was injured in the crash which
happened at around 11.20am (7.20pm GMT).
Passengers escaped from the fuselage on inflatable emergency slides, and one
said on Twitter that "most" appeared to be "fine".
However, there were reports that some passengers needed medical treatment
for burns.
David Eun, a passenger on board, tweeted:
"I just crash landed at SFO. Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine.
I'm OK. Surreal..."
Mr Eun posted a photograph of the stricken jet, which appeared to be intact
apart from the tail, at rest on grass at the side of the runway.
The photograph showed passengers walking away, including one woman pulling her
suitcase, as a large black plume of smoke rose overhead.
Kathy Muhler said the aircraft was about to land and had its landing gear down when the tail of the plane came off. It then continued down the runway before coming to a stop.
Photographs taken after the crash showed the tail on the runway.
Asiana is South Korea's second-largest airline. The Boeing 777 can carry up to 300 passengers.
A previous fatal cash with Asiana Airlines took place in 1993, when a Boeing 737–500 crashed in poor weather about short of the runway in Mokpo, South Korea, killing two of the six crew members and 66 of the 110 passengers.
Kathy Muhler said the aircraft was about to land and had its landing gear down when the tail of the plane came off. It then continued down the runway before coming to a stop.
Photographs taken after the crash showed the tail on the runway.
Asiana is South Korea's second-largest airline. The Boeing 777 can carry up to 300 passengers.
A previous fatal cash with Asiana Airlines took place in 1993, when a Boeing 737–500 crashed in poor weather about short of the runway in Mokpo, South Korea, killing two of the six crew members and 66 of the 110 passengers.