Mon Dec 30 06:25:56 UTC 2024: ## Deadly Bird Strike Possibly Contributed to Fatal Jeju Air Crash in South Korea

**Seoul, South Korea** – A catastrophic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 787-800, at Muan International Airport on Sunday, claimed the lives of 179 of the 181 people on board. While a bird strike was reported by pilots prior to the crash, aviation experts suggest it may not be the sole cause of the deadliest air disaster in South Korean history.

The aircraft experienced a belly landing, failing to deploy its landing gear and subsequently skidding into a concrete wall before catching fire. Initial reports indicate pilots encountered a flock of birds shortly before declaring an emergency. However, Geoffrey Thomas, editor-in-chief of Airline Ratings, points to a potential electrical failure as evidenced by the cessation of ADS-B data transmission shortly after the Mayday call. He suggests a series of cascading failures may have contributed to the inability to deploy flaps and landing gear.

While bird strikes are relatively common, impacting thousands of flights annually globally, they rarely result in such devastating consequences. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported nearly 20,000 wildlife strikes in 2023 alone, with the vast majority causing only minor damage.

Doug Drury, an aviation expert from CQUniversity in Australia, questioned several aspects of the incident, including the failure to slow the aircraft during landing, the landing direction, and the lack of flame-retardant foam on the runway. He also highlighted the lack of bird deterrent measures at Muan International Airport despite previous recommendations for sound cannons, lasers, and warning lights. These measures were reportedly delayed due to ongoing runway extension work.

The South Korean government has launched a full-scale investigation in conjunction with the US National Transportation Safety Board. A seven-day national mourning period has been declared, and Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered a comprehensive safety inspection of the entire aviation sector, including a special inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating in the country. The investigation is expected to take several months to determine the precise cause of the tragedy.

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