The tragic crash of the Jeju Aeroplane, which claimed 179 lives and left only two survivors, has raised serious concerns regarding the safety of low-cost carrier flights.
South Korea's Transport Ministry has revealed some alarming details regarding the events leading up to the disaster that occurred on December 29, last year, in Muan.
According to the Ministry's preliminary findings, the plane received a warning about bird activity just one minute before its black box recording ceased. The investigation points to a possible bird strike as a contributing factor to the crash.
The aircraft, which had departed from Bangkok, was attempting to land at Muan International Airport when it encountered a flock of birds. Air traffic control had cleared the plane for landing on Runway 01. However, as the aircraft neared the runway, it was warned about the presence of birds.
At 8:57:50 a.m., the control tower issued a warning to the crew about the potential danger of a bird strike. The captain and first officer discussed the presence of a flock of birds flying beneath the plane shortly before the black box recording ceased at 8:58:50 a.m.
The findings suggest that the plane likely lost power after both its engines were struck by the birds. Blood and feathers found on the engines are believed to be from migratory ducks, which are commonly found in the region during the winter season.
The distress call made by the pilot at 8:58:56 a.m., which is estimated based on synchronisation with air traffic control records, was not recorded in the black box. This suggests that the plane's electrical systems were compromised following the bird strikes.
The aircraft continued to fly for about four more minutes after the black box recording stopped. During this time, the plane was unable to deploy its landing gear, and the pilot was attempting a go-around manoeuvre when it struck a concrete localiser mound at 9:02:57 a.m.
The impact caused the plane to explode in flames, resulting in the tragic loss of life.
The Ministry has emphasised that the investigation is still in its early stages, and it will take several months to fully analyse the flight data and cockpit voice recordings.
The preliminary report will be shared with relevant international bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), as well as authorities in the United States, France, and Thailand.
The South Korean government has also briefed the bereaved families of the victims, offering them the latest findings in the ongoing investigation. The country has pledged to conduct a thorough examination of all available data, with the hope of preventing similar tragedies in the future.
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