Air disaster suspected of being caused by a bird strike kills 179 in Korea

Air disaster suspected of being caused by a bird strike kills 179 in Korea

2024-12-29

A South Korean Jeju Airlines plane crashed at Muan International Airport in southern South Korea on Sunday after an engine failure suspected of being caused by a bird. Of the 181 people on board, only two were rescued, while the remaining 179 people died in the crash after the plane hit a barrier at the end of the runway and exploded. Two former pilots said the bird strike may have caused the plane’s engine and hydraulic system to fail, rendering the landing gear, speed brakes and other landing devices unusable.

Wang Yi-jen
Former pilot
If it’s what we would call a large aircraft, a small bird strike may not be a big problem. However, if the bird strike causes the engine to fail and even causes a fire, then it could lead to a bigger problem. It may lead to a malfunction of the hydraulic system, and that can lead to risks during the plane’s descent and landing.

Chang Chih-hao
Former pilot
Suppose you encounter a bird strike, or a landing system or landing gear failure, there are actually ways to handle the situation. What I don’t understand is why the plane continued to fall onto the runway. In theory, the pilot could abort the landing and make another attempt after carrying out the necessary procedures.

A preliminary investigation found that the pilot had aborted the landing once, and crashed during the second attempt. Some experts have also said that Muan Airport’s runway may be too short to enable emergency take-offs and landings. The Korea Aviation Accident Investigation Board has recovered two black boxes. Investigation into the accident is still ongoing.

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