The deadly Jeju Air Flight 2216 is still fresh in our memory, the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) of South Korea has released preliminary findings on the devastating Jeju Air crash that claimed 179 lives on December 29, 2024. The report, issued on January 25, 2025, sheds light on a harrowing sequence of events that led to one of South Korea’s worst aviation disasters in recent history.
The Fateful Flight
The ill-fated Jeju Air passenger aircraft was approaching Muan International Airport when disaster struck. At 08:58:50, just over four minutes before impact, both the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) abruptly stopped recording. At this crucial moment, the aircraft was flying at a speed of 161 knots and an altitude of 498 feet.
Bird Strike and Emergency
Seconds after the blackbox failure, the pilots declared a “Mayday” emergency to the control tower, citing a bird strike during a go-around maneuver. CCTV footage from the airport confirmed the collision with birds, later identified through DNA analysis as common pochards.
For approximately four minutes, the aircraft circled to the left of the runway before attempting to land on Runway 19. In a critical oversight, the landing gear was not deployed. The plane touched down on its fuselage and skidded along the runway, ultimately colliding with the localizer facility at 09:02:57.
Ongoing Investigation
The ARAIB, in collaboration with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA), is conducting a thorough investigation. Key findings include:
- Evidence of bird remains in both engines
- Detailed analysis of flight records and control tower communications
- Examination of weather conditions, which were reported as favorable at the time of the incident
Investigators are planning to disassemble the engines for further inspection and have commissioned additional research on the localizer mound and bird strike impacts. The ARAIB has committed to issuing immediate safety recommendations if urgent measures are identified during the ongoing investigation.
As the nation mourns this tragic loss of life, the aviation community eagerly awaits the final report, hoping it will provide crucial insights to prevent such catastrophes in the future.
The content cites the official report, which can be found on
https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156672248
Photo Credit: 자연속으로 into nature, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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