Bird Strike Reported Before Deadly Plane Crash in South Korea

Monday 30 December 2024 - 08:33

A tragic plane crash in South Korea claimed the lives of 179 people, leaving only two survivors among the 181 on board. The flight, operated by Jeju Air, was traveling from Bangkok to Muan International Airport. Minutes before the crash, the pilot reported a bird strike and issued a mayday call.

The incident occurred early on a Sunday morning when the pilot was cleared to land at 8:54 AM local time. However, shortly after, the control tower warned of a possible bird strike, and the pilot sent a mayday signal a minute later. Despite an attempt to land safely, the plane failed to deploy its landing gear, skidded off the runway, and crashed into a concrete wall, resulting in a fire.

South Korea’s transport ministry confirmed the bird strike and the mayday call. Authorities are still investigating whether the bird strike played a significant role in the crash, with weather conditions also under review.

In response to the incident, the country’s acting president ordered an emergency safety inspection of the entire aviation system to prevent similar tragedies. Boeing, the manufacturer of the involved aircraft, has been in contact with the airline and expressed condolences to the victims' families.

The investigation continues, and the airline has faced further scrutiny after a separate Boeing 737-800 flight experienced a landing gear issue the following day, prompting a return to the airport for safety checks.