The ongoing investigation into South Korea's deadliest air disaster is shedding light on the tragic events that unfolded when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 jet from Bangkok crashed at Muan International Airport. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandates a preliminary report within 30 days post-accident, and South Korean authorities have complied. This report, revealing critical insights, has been submitted to the UN aviation agency and authorities in the United States, France, and Thailand.
Investigators have focused on the possibility of a "bird strike" as a contributing factor to the crash. The pilots, during their final approach, discussed spotting a flock of birds.
“Both engines were examined, and feathers and bird blood stains were found on each,” – South Korea’s authorities investigating last month’s Jeju Air plane crash.
The aircraft tragically overshot the runway while making an emergency belly landing, crashing into the localizer structure at Muan airport. This structure, essential for aiding navigation, is made of reinforced concrete and earth. Experts indicate it may have played a significant role in the disaster.
“The localizer aids navigation of an aircraft making an approach to the runway, and the structure built of reinforced concrete and earth at Muan airport supporting the system’s antennae was likely a cause of the disaster, experts have said.” – Experts
Upon impact with the embankment, a fire and partial explosion ensued.
“After the crash into the embankment, fire and a partial explosion occurred. Both engines were buried in the embankment’s soil mound, and the fore fuselage scattered up to 30-200 meters from the embankment,” – South Korea’s authorities investigating last month’s Jeju Air plane crash.
The disaster claimed the lives of all but two of the 181 people and crew members on board. Notably, both data recorders ceased recording simultaneously just before pilots issued a mayday call. At that critical moment,
“The aircraft was at an altitude of 498 ft (152 meters) flying at 161 knots (298 km/h or 185 mph) at the moment the blackboxes stopped recording,” – South Korea’s authorities investigating last month’s Jeju Air plane crash.
