South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that the airport control tower issued a warning of a bird strike to the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft shortly before it crashed at the Muan International Airport.
‘While attempting to land on runway No. 1, the control tower issued a bird strike warning and the pilot declared mayday shortly after,’ the ministry noted and explained the plane was given clearance to land in the opposite direction on the runway, after which the pilot attempted the landing without the landing gear deployed and skidded off the runway.
Background of the event is, on Sunday morning, December 29, 2024, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 aircraft registered as HL8088, overshot the runway while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
The aircraft collided with the runway 'localizer' (landing guidance safety facility) and the outer wall during landing and exploded, tragically killing 179 of the 181 occupants that included six crew members. Two crew members were miraculously survived and rescuded.
The accident is being regarded as the worst aviation disaster in South Korea's history, and only two crew members were confirmed to have survived. Both survivors are conscious and are not in danger of dying. This accident is the deadliest accident in Korean aviation history, and raises many questions about safety standards.
The tragedy occurred on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand to Muan in southwestern South Korea. Initial investigations indicate that the landing gear or the operation of it may have been damaged by a bird strike just before landing, which may have caused the fatal accident.
As of now, the aircraft's black box has been recovered and is currently being analyzed to determine the exact cause of the accident. The rescue operation involved 1,570 personnel, including firefighters, police, and medical personnel.
The aircraft fire was extinguished within an hour, but most of the passengers were killed in the crash and explosion. Muan International Airport and the Impact of the Accident Muan International Airport serves as a major hub for domestic and international flights in South Korea.
As per the sources, Passengers on ill-fated Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok (BKK) had already been stuck at the airport for 3 nights due to the Christmas flight disruption to Muan (MWX).
Choe Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, said on the 30th,
"In order to prevent the recurrence of aircraft accidents, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Tourism has instructed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Tourism to conduct safety inspections related to aircraft operators."
All flights at the airport were canceled due to this accident, which had a major impact on domestic and international air traffic and commercial routes. Risk factors such as bird strikes are a major concern for airports in this region.
Historically, bird strikes have been a cause of many aviation accidents. In the case of the Muan accident, experts suggest that the landing gear may have been damaged by the bird strike, making a safe landing impossible.
Such collisions pose a significant operational risk, especially at airports in areas with a high concentration of migratory birds. Safety record of Jeju Air and the Boeing 737-800 Founded in 2005, Jeju Air is known as one of the largest low-cost carriers in South Korea.
A passenger of the Ill-fated Jeju Air flight 7C2216, sent a message to the family just before the crash. The text read,
“We can’t land, a bird got stuck in the engine” Their last message read, “Should I be prepared?” before all contact was lost.
Prior to this accident, there had been no fatal accidents at this airport, but a runway excursion accident occurred at Gimhae Airport in Busan in the year 2007.
This tragedy has dealt a huge setback to Jeju Air, which has maintained a stable record so far. The Boeing 737-800 is widely used worldwide and boasts a high level of safety. However, as with all aircraft, thorough maintenance and regular inspections are essential.
The age of the aircraft and the possibility of bird strikes will be the main focus of the investigation into this accident. Authorities’ response and emergency measures Immediately after the accident, Acting President Choi Sung-mok of the Republic of Korea declared a seven-day national mourning period.
He ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of this accident and comprehensive measures to prevent future disasters. Muan was designated a special disaster zone, allowing additional resources to be mobilized to support the families of the victims and for rescue operations.
The emergency rescue team succeeded in rescuing two survivors, a male flight attendant in her 30s and a female flight attendant in her 20s, despite difficult circumstances. The survivors are conscious and receiving medical treatment.
Comparison with other aviation disasters in Korea This accident has been recorded as the worst aviation accident in the history of the Republic of Korea, surpassing the 2002 crash of an Air China Boeing 767 near Gimhae Airport in Busan that caused 129 deaths.
It is also the worst accident involving a regional airline since the 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam, which killed more than 200 people. While the South Korean aviation industry is well known for its high safety standards, this tragedy is a reminder of the complexity and inherent risks of air travel.
Analysis of the aircraft’s black box is essential to determine the exact cause of the accident, and will examine multiple factors, including whether human, mechanical or environmental factors contributed.
Talking about the implications to the industry, Psychological and financial impacts on the aviation industry Air disasters have a profound impact not only on the families of the victims, but also on the safety perceptions of the airlines involved and the public.
Jeju Air has expressed its condolences and pledged to fully cooperate with the investigation, but will face an intensive review of its maintenance and training protocols.
Pending investigations and necessary repair work, the suspension of operations at Muan International Airport will also have a significant financial impact on commercial flights and cargo logistics for the region.
Like any other major aviation accidents, the Muan disaster has had a profound impact on Korean society, sparking national mourning and global solidarity. The victims’ families are going through a long mourning process, while the government and airport authorities are working to restore confidence in aviation safety.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Infrastructure has set up the Central Accident Response Headquarters on the 6th floor of the Sejong Government Complex, and Jeollanam-do is also operating the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
.jpg)
