South Korea’s investigation into the deadly December 29 Jeju Air plane crash is focusing on “bird strike” as a potential cause. The Boeing 737-800 jet, scheduled to arrive at Muan International Airport, mistakenly overshot its runway and crashed into a navigation structure, killing all but two crew members. Experts suggest the airport’s “localizer” system, which aids aircraft guidance, might have contributed to the disaster due to its concrete and earth support structure. Initial findings from South Korean investigators include pilots mentioning sightings of birds on final approach, though the exact time of the bird strike remains unclear. The blackbox data showed both engines were damaged with feathers and blood stains, and the plane’s crash caused intense fire and partial explosion effects. The simultaneous stoppage of the two flight recorders before the pilots declared mayday is still under investigation. Authorities have submitted a preliminary report to the UN aviation agency for further analysis, with the case remaining open and ongoing investigations continuing.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/26/asia/south-korea-initial-findings-jeju-air-crash-intl-hnk/index.html