The Jeju Air Flight 7C179 tragedy continues to unravel as investigators seek to determine the precise causes behind the deadly crash at Muan International Airport, South Korea, which claimed the lives of 179 people on board. The Boeing 737-800, en route from Bangkok to Muan, faced multiple challenges during its ill-fated landing on December 29, 2023.
Initial reports painted a grim picture of the circumstances leading to this devastating incident. According to initial findings, pilot error may have been exacerbated by time-sensitive pressure as the crew attempted to land the plane without jettisoning excess fuel, which could have aided their control during touchdown. Experts, including Korea Cyber University’s Professor Baek Seung-joo, noted, “The pilot's rushed decisions under stress prevented the ground crew from preparing adequately for a hard landing.”
The aircraft failed to deploy its landing gear and swiftly encountered engine difficulties, which mandated rapid decision-making just moments before the descent. Eyewitnesses observed sparks flying from the engines as the plane made its approach, signaling potential catastrophic malfunctions.
The mishap was compounded by runway limitations due to construction taking place at the airport. The runway, about 2800 meters long, was operationally restricted to approximately 2500 meters, significantly reducing the landing area available to the aircraft. This restriction, coupled with the plane's approach deviation, led to it landing far from its intended touchdown zone.
What might have been avoided if not for the unexpected presence of runway obstacles? An expert analysis highlighted the hazardous concrete foundation for the approach beacon, which, unfortunately, was located directly where the airliner crashed. “Had the beacon’s structure been less solid or not situated at the runway's end, the collision might have been avoidable,” experts lamented.
Upon impact, the plane's fuselage skidded and burst into flames, and only two individuals among the 181 on board survived the inferno. The tragedy is particularly poignant for families affected, including one South Korean man who lost 12 family members and five friends, making him the sole survivor of his large family. “I can’t forget the voice of my six-year-old daughter as she told me they were set to celebrate her grandfather’s birthday,” he recounted, devastated by the loss.
American transportation safety and aircraft expert teams, joined by Boeing representatives, have been dispatched to the crash site. The investigative crew comprises members from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, working alongside their South Korean counterparts. They are set to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the crash and analyze the black boxes, especially as one is reported to be damaged.
The Federal Aviation Administration granted clearance for the aircraft's approach at about 8:54 AM local time, but just three minutes later, the pilot issued distress signals reporting bird strikes and requested to abort the original landing protocol. The collision occurred at 9:03 AM, after the aircraft touched down without its landing gear.
Building on their inquiry, investigators aim to determine whether the plane flew too low and how much of the incident was attributed to human and systemic error. Mixed reports indicate prior avian activity alerts for the area may have been missed, and regulations surrounding airport construction were not adequately accounted for.
After the disaster, airport operations were suspended indefinitely, and the South Korean government declared seven days of national mourning starting December 29. The grave loss of life marks the incident as the deadliest air crash for South Korea, with the nation gripped by collective sorrow.
Further details are anticipated as experts sift through evidence and glean insights on improving safety regulations to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. The investigation continues as families and authorities await clear answers, hoping for resolution amid their grief and uncertainty.