Boeing 777 plane crash-lands at San Francisco airport

Pictures posted on Twitter showed passengers jumping down the inflatable emergency slides and leaving the area, as plumes of smoke rise from the plane.

Fire fighters and rescue teams are at the scene of the downed Asiana Airlines Flight 214, which had taken off from South Korea's capital, Seoul.

The cause of the crash is unclear.

Early indications suggest the plane came in too short and hit the seawall at the airport, Kazinform quotes BBC News.

Eight adults and two children who suffered critical injuries are being treated at San Francisco General Hospital, hospital spokesperson Rachael Kagan said.

There were 291 passengers and 16 crew on board, Asiana said.

Nationalities on board included 141 Chinese, 77 South Koreans and 61 US citizens, the airline said.

Rescue teams initially took 49 people deemed to be in a serious condition to nearby hospitals, officials said.

Some 190 people walked to safety from the plane, many of whom were later treated for minor injuries.

All of the passengers have now been accounted for.

While the sequence of events remains unclear, it appeared the plane landed and then crashed on San Francisco International Airport's Runway 28L, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown.

Footage of the scene showed debris strewn on the runway and smoke pouring from the jet, as fire crews sprayed a white fire retardant into gaping holes in the craft's roof.

One engine and the tail fin appeared to have broken away from the main wreckage.

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