Jeju Air Crash Investigation: Bird Strike Confirmed as Likely Cause

South Korean authorities have confirmed bird strikes as the probable cause of the tragic crash of Jeju Air on December 29, 2024, which claimed 179 lives. The investigation has uncovered bird feathers and blood in both engines of the ill-fated plane, shedding light on the accident that occurred during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport.

Jeju Air Crash Investigation: Initial Findings and Evidence

On January 16, 2025, Korean investigators revealed that feathers were recovered from one of the engines at the crash site. The Korea Aviation Accident Investigation Board (KAIB) later confirmed that feathers were also found in the other engine. According to the National Biological Resources Agency (NBRA), a total of 17 samples, including feathers and blood stains, were analyzed, solidifying evidence of a bird strike.

“We have confirmed that a bird strike occurred,” stated Lee Seung-yeol, Head of the Air and Rail Accident Investigation Commission (ARAIC), during an interview with a local news outlet, NToday, on January 8, 2025. He further explained,

“We found some feathers in the process of digging out the soil that entered the engine. We plan to investigate what species of bird it is and how it got in, by examining the inside of the engine.”

Black Box Data Missing

The investigation has encountered challenges, as both the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) failed to capture the moments leading up to the crash. According to reports, the black box recordings stopped at 08:59, just four minutes before the aircraft collided with an airport embankment at 09:03.

Details of the Jeju Air Crash

Jeju Air Flight 2216 was en route from Bangkok when it attempted an emergency landing at Muan International Airport without its landing gear extended. The high-speed touchdown resulted in the aircraft striking a concrete mound that housed the localizer landing aid antenna at the runway’s end. A post-impact fire engulfed the plane, leaving only two flight attendants among the 181 passengers and crew alive.

In the wake of the tragedy, South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has begun inspecting airport safety measures. Their review of landing aid structures across 14 airports identified seven with concrete installations similar to those implicated in the Jeju Air crash.

“We are initiating a special safety inspection of major airport facilities from January 13 to January 21, 2025,” the Ministry announced. Comprehensive safety measures, including improvements to localizer facilities, are planned for completion by the end of 2025.

Ongoing Investigation

Investigators are considering multiple factors beyond the bird strike, including potential issues with the aircraft’s landing gear and runway barriers. With detailed species identification underway, the investigation aims to determine how the birds entered the engines.

Youssef Yahya

Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’

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