On December 29, 2022, tragedy struck as a Boeing B737-800 operated by budget airline Jeju Air crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea. The ill-fated flight had departed from Bangkok with 179 passengers on board, ranging in age from 3 to 78 years old. Most of the passengers were in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Only two cabin crew members survived the crash.
The incident unfolded shortly after the plane made contact with Muan's control tower. Three minutes into the communication, the tower advised the crew about potential "bird activity" nearby. At 08:59 local time, the aircraft struck a bird and issued a mayday signal. Despite efforts to safely land the plane, it collided with a concrete structure at the runway's end.
Investigators have since found evidence that corroborates a bird strike, including feathers and blood stains on the aircraft's engines. This crucial information has directed the ongoing investigation towards understanding the role of both the bird strike and the concrete structure in the crash.
Flight data and cockpit voice recorders are pivotal in aviation incidents, yet both ceased recording four minutes before this disaster. While the black boxes have been examined, the precise cause of the crash remains undetermined. The investigation continues to delve into these anomalies.
In response to this tragic event, South Korea has outlined plans to upgrade runway safety areas at seven airports nationwide. The government intends to bolster airport safety by mandating the installation of bird detection cameras and thermal imaging radars across all South Korean airports by 2026.
"Bird detection radars will be installed at all airports to enhance early detection of distant birds and improve response capabilities for aircraft," – Ministry of Land
The implementation of these new technologies aims to prevent similar incidents in the future by providing advanced warning systems for potential bird strikes.