The preliminary accident report on the Jeju Air crash in South Korea has revealed that traces of bird strikes were found in the plane's engines. The report, released by South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, indicated the presence of feathers and bird blood stains in both engines. Further analysis identified the bird species as Baikal teals, a type of migratory duck.
Additionally, the report highlighted that the plane's black boxes, including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, stopped recording approximately 4 minutes before the crash, posing a challenge in determining the exact cause of the accident.
The Boeing 737-800 incident occurred at Muan International Airport on December 29, resulting in the tragic loss of all but two of the 181 individuals on board. The aircraft skidded off the runway due to landing gear failure, colliding with a concrete structure and igniting into flames. The victims were predominantly South Koreans, with two Thai nationals also among the casualties.
Experts have raised concerns about the construction of the concrete structure at the airport, which housed a localizer aiding aircraft during landings. Suggestions have been made to replace the structure with lighter materials that could minimize damage upon impact, prompting the Transport Ministry to announce its removal.
Prior to the crash, air traffic controllers had alerted the pilots about potential bird strikes, with the aircraft confirming a bird strike moments before issuing a distress signal. The pilots attempted an emergency landing following the incident, having also encountered a group of birds while approaching the runway.
The investigative efforts moving forward will involve disassembling the engines for detailed examination, analyzing data from the black box and air traffic control, and scrutinizing evidence related to the embankment, localizer, and bird strikes. The objective of these comprehensive investigations is to accurately determine the root cause of the tragic accident.
The Transport Ministry has shared the preliminary report with the International Civil Aviation Organization, Thailand, the United States, and France. The aircraft was manufactured in the U.S., with its engines originating from France. As a result of the incident, Muan airport will remain closed until April 18 to facilitate ongoing investigations and safety assessments.
