Transport officials revealed on Monday that the pilot of a passenger jet that crashed in South Korea on Sunday reported a bird strike while landing. Following the strike, the pilots declared a mayday, resulting in the Boeing 737-800 belly-landing and skidding off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport before erupting in a fireball upon impact with a barrier. Tragically, all 175 passengers and four of the six crew members on the Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok, lost their lives. Despite this, two flight attendants were rescued and taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Questions have arisen regarding the aircraft’s lack of visible landing gear deployment, its seemingly unabated speed during landing, the presence of a solid barrier beyond the runway, and the absence of fire trucks at the scene. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country’s airline operation system, as authorities strive to identify victims and determine the cause of the deadliest air disaster in the nation’s history.
In response to the incident, the maintenance records of similar aircraft operated by six airlines will be thoroughly reviewed, and a comprehensive investigation into the accident is underway. While the flight data recorder has been recovered, its condition remains uncertain, prompting further analysis. Additionally, the cockpit voice recorder will provide valuable information on the aircraft’s systems and events leading up to the crash.
Experts are examining various factors, including the bird strike, the localiser antenna located at the end of the runway, and the unexpected presence of a solid barrier near the runway overrun. Safety specialist David Learmount criticized the barrier’s placement, asserting that it significantly impacted the crash outcome. The investigation will delve into the positioning and design of such navigational aids to determine their role in the tragedy.
Localisers at Muan International Airport and other South Korean airports are situated on piled-up soil with concrete structures within the layers. The connection between these localisers and the crash will be a focal point of the investigation. Buddhist monks paid tribute to the victims of the crash, highlighting the profound impact of this devastating event.
Experts have cast doubt on the theory that a bird strike could have triggered the landing gear failure. Geoffrey Dell, an Australian airline safety expert, stated, “I’ve never seen a bird strike prevent the landing gear from being extended.” Trevor Jensen, an Australian aviation consultant, also noted that emergency services are typically prepared for a belly landing.
Choi Kee-young, a professor from Inha University, conveyed to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, “If you look at the video, the landing gear didn’t extend, and the plane crashed with very little loss of speed.” Choi Sang-mok, South Korea’s acting president, placed a flower at a memorial for the crash victims.
Christian Beckert, a flight safety expert and Lufthansa pilot, analyzed the video footage and suggested that apart from the reversers, most of the plane’s braking systems were not engaged, presenting a significant issue and resulting in a swift landing. Beckert downplayed the possibility of a bird strike damaging the landing gear while in the raised position, pointing out the challenge of raising it again if the strike occurred with the gear down. “It’s really, really very rare and very unusual not to lower the gear, because there are independent systems where we can lower the gear with an alternate system,” he explained.
Bird strikes have long been a focal point for airports and aviation agencies due to the potential risks they pose. In the US, wildlife strikes cause over $900 million in aircraft damage annually and have led to more than 250 fatalities since 1988. Data from the US Federal Aviation Administration and agriculture department reveal an increase in bird strikes on planes over the years. From 1990 to 2023, there were 296,613 wildlife strikes globally, predominantly from bird strikes. In 2023 alone, 19,603 strikes were recorded, with 3.6% resulting in damage.
To mitigate these risks, airports commonly employ various strategies, such as adjusting flight schedules to avoid peak bird activity, managing nearby habitats to deter birds, and utilizing non-lethal methods like bird hazing or removal. Radar systems are also utilized to detect bird activity along flight paths, equipping pilots with crucial information to steer clear of potential hazards. Since the 1990s, efforts to reduce bird strikes have been rolled out at numerous airports.
On a somber note, investigators worked diligently on Monday morning to identify some of the remaining victims, as grieving families awaited news inside the Muan airport terminal. The tragic crash primarily claimed the lives of local residents returning from trips to Thailand, with two Thai nationals also perishing.
Park Han-shin, who lost his brother in the crash, disclosed his frustration in being informed by authorities that his brother had been identified, yet he had not been granted the opportunity to see his body.
