Bird Strike May Have Contributed to Deadly South Korea Plane Crash, Investigators Say

A preliminary investigation into the deadly crash of a Jeju Air plane in December has revealed that bird feathers and bloodstains were found in both engines. The Boeing 737-800 was on its way from Thailand to Muan, South Korea, when it crashed after a failed landing attempt on December 29. Tragically, 179 people died.

The crash happened when the plane belly-landed and exploded after hitting a concrete barrier. The investigation suggests that a bird strike could have played a role, as pilots saw a group of birds while approaching the runway. Security cameras also showed the plane flying near the birds just before trying to go around for another landing.

DNA tests confirmed that the feathers and blood belonged to Baikal teals, migratory birds from Siberia. However, it is not clear if the engines failed due to the bird strike, and investigators are still looking into other possible causes, such as faulty landing gear or problems with the runway barrier.

Additionally, both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder stopped working four minutes before the crash, leaving a gap in the investigation data. Investigators have not yet determined why they stopped.
The crash is South Korea’s worst aviation disaster, and the investigation is ongoing.