Ten asylum-seeker myths busted

Rohingya asylum-seeker Mohammad Zuhar bin Sayed Alam displays pictures of his wife and sister he left behind in Myanmar earlier this year. Rohingyas, persecuted Muslim minorities, flee deadly sectarian violence in Myanmar by boat with many grateful to end up in Indonesia. Picture: AFP/Romeo Gacad Source: AFP

DO you believe that thousands of illegal boat people are swamping our shores in unprecedented numbers and threatening Australian jobs and the economy?

You wouldn't be the only person to do so - and you'll be hearing more about it as politicians jockey for your vote ahead of the federal election.

Asylum seekers arriving on boats in Australian waters is likely to be one of the top issues debated throughout the election campaign.

News.com.au explains 10 boat-people myths.

Myth 1: We are being swamped

REALITY: The number of people arriving in Australia to claim asylum jumped by more than a third last year to 15,800 people, driven by an increase in arrivals from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Australia resettles the third largest number of refugees of any country per capita, but actual Australia's asylum seeker numbers, while politically sensitive, remain numerically small. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says Australia receives about three per cent of the total asylum claims made in industrialised countries around the world and, "by comparison, asylum levels in Australia continue to remain below those recorded by many other industrialised and non-industrialised countries".

Myth 2: We're a magnet compared to other countries

REALITY: Nearly half a million - 493,000 - asylum claims were lodged in industrialised countries last year, the second highest number on record after 2003, as war, civil strife, political repression and sectarian violence continue to force movements of populations across borders. Europe received 355,000 asylum seeker claims, while North America had 103,000. In particular, conflict in Syria has prompted a new mass wave of refugees fleeing that country. Afghanistan alone has a diaspora of more than 2.7 million refugees across 71 countries, but more than 95 per cent are in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran.

Myth 3: We take more asylum seekers because we're a rich, First World country

REALITY: According to Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, the reverse is true. "The burden of helping the world's forcibly displaced people is starkly uneven," he said. "Poor countries host vastly more displaced people than wealthier ones. While anti-refugee sentiment is heard loudest in industrialised countries, developing nations host 80 per cent of the world's refugees."

Myth 4: They're illegal, queue jumping undesirables

REALITY: Asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat are neither engaging in illegal activity, nor are they immigrants. The UN Refugee Convention (to which Australia is a signatory) recognises that refugees have a right to enter a country for the purposes of seeking asylum, regardless of how they arrive or whether they hold valid travel or identity documents. Australian law also permits unauthorised entry into Australia for the purposes of seeking asylum. Asylum seekers do not break any Australian laws simply by arriving on boats or without authorisation. Australia has a proud history of boat people and other asylum seekers becoming good citizens.

Myth 5: Most asylum seekers come by boat

REALITY: Statistics from 2008 showed at least 13 asylum seekers arrive through Australian airports daily, more than 32 times the number of boat people supposedly ''flooding'' across our maritime borders in that year. A total of 4768 ''plane people'', more than 96 per cent of applicants for refugee status, arrived in that year on legitimate tourist, business and other visas - compared with 161 who arrived by boat during the same period. While boat numbers have increased, Australian Government statistics from the first quarter of 2013 showed more than 90 per cent of asylum seekers who arrived by boat were found to be genuine refugees. In comparison, those who arrived by plane - despite being eligible for release into the community and not having to face years of detention on Nauru or Manus Island - were almost twice as likely to be rejected as refugees. The figure continued a long-term trend of high approval rates for people arriving by boat, with 93.5 per cent being found to be refugees in 2010-11 and 91 per cent in 2011-12.

Successful refugee: Les Murray is known as both the face and voice of soccer in Australia. As the most prominent commentator and presenter of soccer on Australian television, he is credited with championing the rise in popularity of the sport. He emigrated to Australia from his native Hungary as an 11-year old refugee in 1957. Picture: AP Source: news.com.au

Myth 6: Asylum seekers are taking our jobs

REALITY: The Federal Government released 16,000 asylum seekers into the community as they wait for their refugee claims to be processed. They receive about $220 a week from Centrelink, most of which goes towards rent and food, but they are on bridging visas which stipulate that they're not allowed to get jobs. Nearly half of those asylum seekers are subject to the government's "no advantage" rule, which means they could be in this limbo for many years. Most asylum seekers want to work and will take jobs other Australians don't want to do, report refugee agencies, but their visa conditions make work illegal. Refugee groups say that barring foreign migrants from the workforce could create an underclass, but they also reject the Federal Opposition's suggestion of a "work for the dole scheme".

Myth 7: People from war torn countries cause problems

REALITY: According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the number of settlers - people entitled to permanent residence, including people arriving in Australia on humanitarian programs - between July 2010 and June 2011 came from more than 200 countries and totalled 127,460.

Most were born in one of the following four countries:

• New Zealand (20.2 per cent)

• China (11.5 per cent)

• United Kingdom (8.6 per cent)

• India (8.3 per cent)

Asylum-seeker Arzoo Bahram, 13, at Gleneg beach in Adelaide with new friends Brittany Drack, 14, Rhiannon Drack, 16, and Sarah Drack, 11. Picture: Andrea Laube. Source: News Limited

Myth 8: They don't assimilate or contribute

REALITY: Refugees have been coming to Australia for decades and the first big wave of boat people, from Vietnam in the 1970s, have proven to be successful migrants who have assimilated and added much to Australian society. After surviving perilous journeys by their courage and strength, these people epitomise the qualities admired and rewarded in Australian society.

Historically, refugees have contributed to the economic, civil and social fabric of Australian life and their success can be found in all fields of endeavour and marked by their presence on the New Year and Queen's birthday honours lists.

In 2009, Sri Lankan asylum seekers tried to communicate with the media from the deck of the Australian Customs and Immigration Fisheries Patrol vessel anchored off Indonesia's Riau Island of Tanjung Pinang. Picture: AFP/Roslan Rahman Source: AFP

Myth 9: Numbers are booming because we lack tough border protection policies

REALITY: In 2007, the total population of asylum seekers, refugees and internationally displaced persons of concern to the UNHCR was estimated at 31.7 million people. By the end of 2011, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide exceeded 42 million and the number of asylum applications in 2011 was also the highest for almost a decade. The reason for the increase in numbers represents the upsurge in people affected by affected by war, military and social upheaval and human rights abuses, which is reflected in the fact Afghanistan continues to provide the most asylum seekers of any country in the world, with 36,600 last year, followed by the Syrian Arab Republic, Serbia, China and Pakistan. According to the Refugee Council of Australia, "most people do not wish to leave their homes, families, friends and everything they know and hold dear. They do so as a last resort, to escape persecution and find safety and security for themselves and their families".

Myth 10: We can just turn the boats back

REALITY: While this is the current subject of political debate between the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, (who says we can't) and the Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, (who says we can) the truth is that wherever they come from, most boat people use Indonesia as a launching point for Australian waters. Indonesia's president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has indicated towing boats back into Indonesian waters is not an option and it is likely a regional summit will be held to discuss a joint solution for the issue of the maritime trade of asylum seekers.

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Man hit by truck as he ran from cops

Major Crash officers investigate a crash where a man was hit by a truck on Leach Highway in Brentwood. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

A MAN who was running away from police has been hit by a vehicle and seriously injured in Brentwood.

The man was hit on Leach Highway near the Kwinana Freeway at about 1.30pm.

West Australian police have confirmed a police unit had pulled up on the highway when the man ran away, reportedly into the path of an oncoming truck.

The man is believed to have suffered critical head injuries, and has been taken to Royal Perth Hospital.

An internal police investigation and a major crash investigation have been launched.

In another incident, a 10-year-old boy was airlifted to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth after being struck by a car in Byford in the city's southeast at about 2.30pm.

He was transferred by ambulance to Princess Margaret Hospital.

The boy's condition has since been listed as stable.

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Man abducted, assaulted in Margaret River

CRIME SCENE: A man was abducted after leaving a business premises in Margaret River. Source: PerthNow

MEN IN QUESTION: WA Police released this picture of a group of men wanted in connection with an alleged abduction and assault. Source: Supplied

A 20-YEAR-OLD man was abducted, assaulted and then abandoned outside Margaret River by a group of men at the weekend.

Police said the man was walking to his car about 5.30pm on Saturday after leaving a business in Ned Higgins Lane, Margaret River.

As he approached his car, he was assaulted by four men, who then put him into the car and drove him three or four kilometres north of the town.

The man was assaulted again, before the group of thugs left him and his car and drove off in their own vehicle with his keys.

The man managed to get to Bussell Highway, where he was found by a passing driver and taken to Margaret River Hospital.

He received treatment for numerous fractures and severe bruising to his head and body.

One of the offenders is described as a white male with short ginger hair, wearing board shorts or similar.

The other men were all wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.

The victim's vehicle is a silver Commodore sedan, and the offenders were driving a white VT model (1999/2000) Commodore sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Woman kept 70 animals in squalor

FILTHY: The house where Rosemary Muriel Donovan kept more than 70 animals. Source: PerthNow

A WOMAN has been found guilty of 24 counts of animal cruelty after the RSPCA found more than 70 animals living in deplorable conditions at her Coondanup property.

Rosemary Muriel Donovan appeared at a two-day trial in the Mandurah Magistrates Court in March and today the findings of the trial were delivered and Donovan was convicted.

RSPCA inspectors visited the Coondanup property on July 4, 2011 after allegations of animal cruelty and concerns from Mandurah City Council.

The animals included dogs, cats and kittens, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds.

They creatures were not provided with proper food or water and were suffering harm which could have been alleviated by the taking of reasonable steps.

Some of the cats had ringworm and were riddled with mites and fleas.

The guinea pig cage was dirty with dead pigs on the floor and some of the birds were confined to cages that were too small.

It was also alleged inspectors sighted a number of animals, including rabbits, inside aviaries also containing birds without water.

In another aviary, a rabbit was walking over five dead budgies that were lying on the floor.

RSPCA Inspectors also noted a lack of food and rancid water and a strong stench of ammonia and faeces on the floor.

Donovan will be sentenced on Friday.

Her mother, Kim Donovan, was acquitted of animal cruelty charges.
 

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Deli worker bashed with pole

Police are trying to identify a man captured in CCTV footage assaulting a Kardinya deli attendant with a pole.

WANTED MAN: CCTV footage of a robbery at a Kardinya deli. Source: Supplied

WANTED MAN: CCTV footage of a robbery at a Kardinya deli. Source: Supplied

WANTED MAN: CCTV footage of a robbery at a Kardinya deli. Source: Supplied

POLICE are trying to identify a man captured in CCTV footage assaulting a Kardinya deli attendant with a pole.

The man entered the Ezy Plus store on South St about 1.15am on Wednesday, June 26.

He jumped the counter and repeatedly hit the attendant in the head.

The assault continued as the victim tried to crawl away.

The victim eventually got to his feet and gave the attacker cash from the till.

The man took more cash from the till before leaving the store.

The attendant was treated at Fremantle Hospital for minor injuries.

The offender is described as being about 35 years of age, 165cm tall, and was wearing a light brown coloured jacket and a beanie. He was carrying a backpack.

Anyone with information or who can identify the man is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Forrest on our biggest FIFO issue

Andrew Forrest of Fortescue Metals Group Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

BILLIONAIRE Andrew Forrest is confident the WA economy will remain strong and says people eager to "write off'' China have got it wrong.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Times as Fortescue Metals Group prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary this month, Mr Forrest said:

- Belts would tighten in the next year, but West Australians shouldn't panic.
- Governments needed to stop being so Perth-centric and commit to investing in regional cities in areas such as the Pilbara.
- Outdated housing taxes were tearing fly-in, fly-out families apart.
- The future of Fortescue was in good hands without him; and
- His achievements would mean nothing if they came at the expense of his family.

THE ECONOMY
Despite the almost daily reports of mining companies laying off staff, Mr Forrest said WA was not heading into a recession.

"I think every reader of The Sunday Times should be looking at the next year as being a bumpy ride, but looking at it with confidence,'' he said.

"It's not going to be a bad year - it just won't be a spectacular year. But, it will precede a strong WA economy and you will not see the WA economy slip back.

"Belts will tighten everywhere, but WA will still be one of, if not the greatest state you can choose to live in.''

CHINA

Mr Forrest said commentators, such as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who recently declared "the Chinese resources boom is over'', were wrong.

"We've had China written off so many times in the 10 years of Fortescue's history and in the 20 years I've been fascinated by China,'' he said.

"The Chinese don't write themselves off - Western commentators do that.

"I have listened very carefully to what the Chinese leadership have said.

"They have a number of things going for them; several hundred million people they've still got to take out of poverty, huge foreign reserves and a rapidly educated people who are all ambitious. That gives them a serious weapon.''

Mr Forrest said the aspirations of the Chinese people reminded him of Australians.

"There is no ingrained social dysfunctionality or traditional set poverty like you have in other countries,'' he said.

"In many ways it's got an Australian, `Get up and have a crack mate' style culture.''

FIFO WORKFORCE

Mr Forrest said he received hundreds of emails from families thanking FMG for its eight-day on, six-day off family friendly roster.

But he also got emails from parents saying FIFO work had destroyed their families.

In one recent email, a woman told him her 15-year marriage had broken down because of it.

"I'm a fundamental non fan of FIFO,'' Mr Forrest said.

"We've done our very best at Fortescue to introduce a family-friendly culture and a family-friendly roster and it's on the edge of what companies can afford.

"We were the absolute first to move to an 8-6 roster in the Pilbara.''

Mr Forrest said the taxation system robbed mums and dads of the "security'' of living in their own home by penalising them if they bought a second house near a mine site.

Fortescue is calling for Fringe Benefits Tax imposts on remote area benefits to be scrapped and more land to be made available for housing developments in the Pilbara.

"We've got this antiquated taxation system, which is really forcing people to only invest in one house which is therefore in one city, which therefore populates a one-city policy (across WA),'' he said.

"We really need to change taxation policy so that it is not skewed against owning more than one house.''

PERTH SYNDROME

Mr Forrest said WA had to realise there was room for other major cities outside of Perth and called on governments to be more courageous when funding and planning for regional areas.

"It's a state with fabulous growth potential, extremely interesting coastline, beautiful climate and serious economic reasons why it can afford to decentralise its population,'' he said.

"We do need an attitude of leadership in our government which demonstrates faith in major population centres outside of Perth.''

FMG'S FUTURE

Mr Forrest stepped down as FMG chief executive in 2011 to become chairman and was replaced by Nev Power.
He said the company was doing well "rowing without me''.

"The strength of Fortescue has always been its management team,'' Mr Forrest said. ``We've had to explore ground where others have found nothing and with different techniques.

"We've pushed through the cynicism and ridicule of opposition of the established players.

"When you get to that point and you have broken through to clear air there is no time for pride. There is no time for personal grandiose. You should just feel thankful and continue doing the absolute best you can.

"In my view, the best that I could do was to fully utilise what has always been Fortescue's real strength… an excellent management team.''

FAMILY
Mr Forrest said his business success would have been hollow if it had come at the expense of his family.

"I will always put family first,'' he said. ``Every time I haven't, I have regretted it and apologised.''

Mr Forrest said he wouldn't force his three children, the oldest of whom is 19, to enter the company.

"It's entirely up to them. They might go into things entirely different (to me),'' he said. ``I have no expectations just the hope they will be happy.''

HIS LEGACY

Mr Forrest and his wife, Nicola, were the first Australians to pledge the "vast majority'' of their wealth to charity after joining a philanthropic movement launched by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and legendary US investor Warren Buffett.

Mr Forrest also helped launch the Australian Employment Covenant, which campaigns to have businesses hire indigenous Australians.

"I'm never looking at life in terms of legacy,'' he said.

"I'm very occupied by the present and how we can help today.''

The third part of the series with Andrew Forrest will be published on PerthNow tomorrow.

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Saatchi tells Nigella it's over

Images have emerged which appear to show celebrity chef Nigella Lawson's throat being squeezed by husband Charles Saatchi in public.

ART collector Charles Saatchi has told a British Sunday newspaper that he is divorcing his wife, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, following an incident in which he grabbed her by the neck outside a London restaurant.

Under the headline "I'm divorcing you Nigella", 70-year-old Saatchi said in a statement to the Mail on Sunday that he had made a "heartbreaking" decision to separate from his 53-year-old wife because she had not defended him over the row.

Charles Saatchi tells Nigella Lawson it's over and they are getting a divorce weeks after controversial images were published which showed him grabbing his wife's neck at a restaurant. Picture: Jean-Paul/JG

EMPLOYEE MONEY SPAT

The publicity-shy former advertising executive, who owns London's Saatchi Gallery for contemporary art,accepted a police caution last month after pictures of the incident appeared in another tabloid, the Sunday People.

"I am sorry to announce that Nigella Lawson and I are getting divorced," he said in the statement which was splashed over the front page of the newspaper.

"This is heartbreaking for both of us as our love was very deep, but in the last year we have become estranged and drifted apart," he wrote.

NIGELLA BREAKS HER SILENCE

"I feel that I have clearly been a disappointment to Nigella during the last year or so, and I am disappointed that she was advised to make no public comment to explain that I abhor violence of any kind against women, and have never abused her physically in any way."

Saatchi insisted that his actions had not been "violent" and claimed that Lawson, to whom he has been married for 10 years, had grasped his neck in the past because they were both "tactile" people.

There was no immediate comment from Lawson.

The daughter of former Conservative finance minister Nigel Lawson, she is a multi-millionaire cookery writer and TV presenter.

Dubbed 'the domestic goddess', she is famed for her flirtatious approach to cooking.

She married Saatchi in 2003, and has two children from her marriage to journalist John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001. Saatchi has one daughter from his previous marriage.

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Taxi driver assaulted, left stranded

A taxi driver was assaulted and had his vehicle stolen in Glendalough early this morning. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: PerthNow

A TAXI driver was assaulted and had his cab stolen in Glendalough this morning.

Police were called to the intersection of the Mitchell Freeway and Powis Street just before 1am after reports a male taxi driver had been assaulted and his taxi stolen.

The taxi had picked up two men in Perth, but pulled over in Bonnyvale Street, near Brady Street, after one of the passengers began to be sick in the taxi.

The driver informed the passengers they would have to pay a cleaning fee and they became agitated, assaulting the driver and stealing the taxi.

Scarborough Police, the dog squad and Regional Operations Group Officers conducted a search of the area and located one person of interest, a 19-year-old Joondanna man, near Glendalough Train Station on Scarborough Beach Road.

He was arrested and taken to Scarborough Police Station for questioning.

A 19-year-old Dalkeith man was interviewed this morning, after being located by Mirrabooka Detectives.

An ambulance was sent to assess the taxi driver's injuries and the taxi was found dumped nearby, however, the security cameras had been damaged.

Charges are yet to be laid.

Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

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No knitted kangaroo for royal bub

An opal-encrusted rattle could be on the cards for the royal couple. Source: Getty Images

A KNITTED stuffed kangaroo is likely to be dumped for "something precious" as the official gift from Australia to the royal baby.

Prince William and Catherine Middleton are expected to welcome the newest arrival to the royal family within days.

A spokeswoman for Kevin Rudd said his wife Therese Rein and daughter Jessica were currently mulling over the gift to be given to the third in line to the throne.

"It will be Australian, precious and very special for both baby and Mum," the spokeswoman said.

An opal-encrusted rattle could be on the cards.

Britain recently passed laws to ensure that Kate and William's baby, regardless of the sex, will be able to take the throne following Prince Charles and Prince William.

Before she was removed as Prime Minister Julia Gillard was knitting a stuffed kangaroo for the royal baby.

Her spokeswoman said on if it would still be sent as part of Australia's gift: "we have no comment".

However, it is unlikely.

Former prime minister Julia Gillard was famously pictured knitting a toy kangaroo for the royal baby. .Picture: The Australian Women's Weekly Source: News Limited

Before her removal from the prime ministership last month Ms Gillard told the Australian Women's Weekly magazine the stuffed kangaroo would be part of the gift for the royal baby but: "I suspect our nation will probably do something a little more".

The magazine took a series of professional photographs with Ms Gillard which sparked public outrage.

"In terms of knitting for Kate's baby - I knit for babies - in part, because they are smaller projects, I've got not that much time in my life. You can get them done and there's a sense of satisfaction in having completed it," Ms Gillard said.

"I just thought it would be a cute project to work on."

In 1981 when the world was preparing for the arrival of Prince William, Australia sent a gift of 20 handcrafted silver platters, each inscribed on the back with Princess Diana and Prince Charles's wedding date, and presented in a French-polished box made from Australian blackwood.

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Teen plane crash victims named

Witnesses have described an Asiana Airlines plane smash at San Francisco's International Airport

• Asiana Airline flight crashed on landing at airport
• Two were killed and others are unaccounted for
• TV footage shows pieces of plan and debris on the tarmac

THE CEO of Asiana Airlines denies mechanical failure was to blame for San Francisco plane crash as it revealed the two passengers killed were two 16-year-olds girls from China.

The two young victims were named by Chinese state media as Ye Mengyuan and Wang Linjia, both 16 and students at Jiangshan Middle School in China's eastern Zhejiang province.

Of the 291 passengers on board, 141 were Chinese.

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 from Seoul crashed on landing at San Francisco International Airport, leaving 182 injured and terrified passengers running for their lives. 

This aerial photo shows the wreckage of the Asiana Flight 214. Picture: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Witnesses of the crash said the tail of the plane appeared to hit the approach area of the runway, which juts out into San Francisco Bay, as it came in for landing.

The plane's tail "hit the runway and the aircraft veered to the left out of the runway,'' South Korea's transportation ministry said in a statement Sunday from Seoul.

Pictures showed the tail detached from the fuselage, and the landing gear had also sheared off.

This aerial photo shows the wreckage on the tarmac. Picture: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Passengers and crew fled the plane with just seconds to spare as smoke rose from the wreckage.

The two victims were found outside the plane, according to San Francisco fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White. "My understanding is that they were found on the runway," she said.

The Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 seen on the runway at San Francisco International Airport after crash landing.  Picutre: AFP

The airport was closed immediately after the crash, but two runways later reopened. Some flights were diverted to Los Angeles.

Among those on board were 77 Koreans, 141 Chinese, 61 US citizens, and one Japanese national, Asiana said in a statement.

In Seoul, Asiana Airlines CEO Yoon Young-Doo said that there was nothing wrong with the airplane.

A fire truck sprays water on Asiana Flight 214 after it crashed at San Francisco International Airport. Picture: AP Photo/Noah Berger

"We purchased this airplane in March 2006... currently we understand that there are no engine or mechanical problems,'' he said at a press conference, adding that the two people killed were Chinese nationals.

San Francisco General Hospital said it was treating 34 patients, five of them in critical condition. Other patients had been taken to different hospitals in the area.

In total, 123 people aboard the flight were uninjured, US officials said.

An eyewitness photo captures the evacuation of passengers from the Asiana flight. Picture: David Eun/Twitter

Survivor Elliott Stone told CNN that as it came in to land, it appeared the plane "sped up, like the pilot knew he was short.''

"And then the back end just hit, and flies up in the air, and everybody's head goes up to the ceiling. And then it just kind of drifts for a little bit, for a good 300 yards and then tips over. Fire starts," he explained.

He said he was able to evacuate safely, sitting in the middle of the plane, but the flight attendants sitting in the back "got hammered - because we landed short.

This image courtesy of CBS affiliate KPIX, shows firefighters fighting a fire on an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777.  Picture: AFP

"And then they all fell out - and it was just the most terrible thing I've seen," Stone said.

He said around 20 minutes after the crash, he and fellow passengers noticed "another five bodies like 457 metres away that nobody saw," adding they alerted emergency workers, but were frustrated at the response.

"We were yelling at people, yelling at firefighters. Get over here. They were just lagging hard. I don't know."

The tail of Asiana Flight 214 is seen, right, after it crashed at San Francisco International Airport. Picture: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Flight 214 crashed while landing on runway 28 left at the airport at 11:26am local time, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said. She said the sequence of events was still unclear, but it appeared the Boeing 777 landed and then crashed.

LUCKY FEW WALKED AWAY UNHARMED

One passenger on Flight 214 posted a photograph of the plane on social media seconds after it landed, showing the emergency chutes deployed and passengers running away.

This photo provided by Zach Custer shows smoke rising from the plane. Picture: AP Photo/Zach Custer

"I just crash landed at SFO. Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine. I'm OK. Surreal ...'' said passenger David Eun, in a posting to the Path social network.

Eun described the immediate aftermath, posting on the Path social media site, "Fire and rescue people all over the place. They're evacuating the injured. Haven't felt this way since 9/11. Trying to help people stay calm. Deep breaths..."

But he soon after posted a more reassuring message, saying "Lots of activity here. Friends, pls don't call right now. I'm fine. Most people are totally calm and trying to let the fire and rescue do their jobs. Just like during 9/11, most people are great and try to be helpful in crisis..."

Another survivor had an even more positive message, telling the Los Angeles Times "I just want their families to know, most of the people seem OK and we're just letting the paramedics do their job."

PLANE 'BELLYFLOPPED' ON RUNWAY

Multiple witnesses said the plane had approached the runway at an awkward angle, with some onlookers saying they heard a loud bang. Local TV station KTVU quoted witnesses as saying that the plane's tail appeared to sheer off as it was coming in to land.

"We saw it hit, the tail broke off almost immediately upon hitting what appeared to be the end of the runway. It kind of did a bellyflop landing," Jennifer Sorgen told CNN.

"There wasn't a huge explosion of fire, but this was definitely fire, lots of smoke."

An airplane mechanic who witnessed the crash from the airfield also saw the smoke.

"It landed straight, then went to the side and then all you saw was smoke coming off it," Adrian John Mirabueno told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I was scared for the families, and to tell the truth I've never seen anything like it."

Another onlooker said he did not see any fire before the plane hit the runway.

"You heard a pop and you immediately saw a large, brief fireball that came from underneath the aircraft," Anthony Castorani, who saw the flight land from a nearby hotel, told CNN. "It began to cartwheel."

Others clarified the plane went into a flat spin around on the ground, as opposed to flipping over.

Helicopter footage showed a trail of debris and blackened pavement starting from the seawall at the very edge of the runway to where the plane finally came to rest in the dirt between the runway and a taxiway.

A video clip posted to YouTube shows smoke coming from a silver-coloured jet on the tarmac. Passengers could be seen jumping down the inflatable emergency slides. Television footage showed debris strewn about the tarmac and pieces of the plane lying on the runway.

Fire trucks sprayed a white fire retardant on the wreckage. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of investigators to San Francisco to probe the crash. NTSB spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said that NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman would head the team.

An FBI agent said there was no sign the crash was the result of a terror attack.

"At this point in time there is no indication of terrorism involved," said FBI special agent David Johnson.

Asiana is a South Korean airline, second in size to national carrier Korean Air. It has recently tried to expand its presence in the United States, and joined the Star Alliance, anchored by American Airlines and British Airways.

The 777-200 is a long-range plane from Boeing. 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. The airline's website says its 777s can carry between 246 to 300 passengers.

The last time a large US airline lost a plane in a fatal crash was an American Airlines Airbus A300 taking off from JFK in 2001.

Smaller airlines have had crashes since then. The last fatal US crash was a Continental Express flight operated by Colgan Air, which crashed into a house near Buffalo, New York on February 12, 2009.

The crash killed all 49 people on board and one man in a house.

Flights are reportedly being prepared to resume at San Francisco International Airport.

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