1.   The pilot circled the airport before landing.

2.   Pilots often circle above an airport, waiting for the weather to clear, he said.

3.   The left engine of the aircraft failed, according to a Federal Aviation Administration incident report, and the pilot circled back for an emergency landing.

4.   The pilot circled around twice to get a better look visually and with the help of a special infrared targeting device that creates images from the heat of vehicles.

5.   The pilot circled back, heading toward Boston, they said.

6.   The pilot circled the airport twice then approached the runway from the south.

7.   The pilot circled for another landing attempt but the plane smashed into the runway, tearing the fuselage apart and plunging passengers into darkness and confusion.

8.   The pilot then circled for another landing attempt but the plane smashed into the runway, Hong Kong resident Fung Jin-tang told AFP.