
Investigators have discovered bird feathers and blood in both engines of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 that crashed in South Korea, leading to one of the deadliest aviation disasters on South Korean soil. The incident occurred on December 29, 2024, when the jet, en route from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan county in southwestern South Korea, attempted an emergency landing at Muan International Airport. The crash claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew, with only two crew members surviving the tragedy.
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The revelation came to light on January 16, 2025, when a person familiar with the ongoing investigation spoke to Reuters, detailing the findings within the aircraft's engines. This discovery significantly points towards a bird strike as a potential cause or contributing factor to the crash. Bird strikes, where aircraft collide with birds, are not uncommon, but impacts affecting both engines are rare and can be catastrophic, as seen in this case. Approximately four minutes before the crash, one of the pilots reported a bird strike and declared an emergency, initiating a go-around maneuver. The pilot had attempted to land on the opposite end of the runway after the initial emergency declaration. However, two minutes before the pilot made the Mayday call, air traffic control had advised caution due to "bird activity" in the vicinity of the airport, underscoring the known risk of such incidents at that time and location.
Further complicating the investigation is the fact that the jet's two black boxes, which record flight data and cockpit voice, ceased recording about four minutes before the accident. This loss of crucial data has posed a significant challenge to investigators trying to piece together the sequence of events leading to the crash. Sim Jai-dong, a former accident investigator with South Korea's transport ministry, commented that the missing data was surprising and suggested that a complete loss of power, including backup systems, might have occurred, an extremely rare scenario. Despite bird strikes being a known hazard in aviation, experts note that they typically do not lead to the loss of an airplane on their own. The investigation must now explore if the bird strike was the sole cause or if there were additional factors at play, such as mechanical issues or human error. The presence of bird feathers and blood in both engines, however, strongly suggests that this incident might have severely compromised engine function, potentially leading to the loss of thrust necessary for a safe landing.
The South Korean transport ministry has been reticent about confirming these details, possibly due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and the need for further verification. Meanwhile, the aviation community and the families of those lost are looking for answers, with this new evidence potentially offering some insight into the tragic event. This crash has reignited discussions about wildlife management around airports, the design of aircraft engines to mitigate bird strike risks, and the protocols for handling such emergencies. The findings from the investigation will likely influence future safety measures and training for pilots, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and response to bird strikes. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding exactly how this bird strike led to such a devastating outcome, with the hope of preventing similar tragedies in the future.