MUAN, South Korea -- The tragic crash of Jeju Air flight 2216 on December 29 at Muan International Airport marked one of South Korea's deadliest aviation disasters, killing 179 passengers and crew members. The flight, which had departed from Bangkok, faced significant challenges during its final moments, as multiple factors appear to have contributed to the catastrophic outcome.
Witnesses report hearing the pilot's desperate "Mayday" call just moments before impact, inciting concern about what transpired during the flight's last four minutes. Investigations have revealed evidence of bird strikes against the plane, which triggered issues with both engines and prompted emergency landing attempts without the deployment of landing gear.
Transport Minister Sangwoo Park has confirmed the government will review all concrete walls at local airports, commonly situated at the end of runways. These barriers, which guide incoming flights, are under scrutiny after the Jeju Air aircraft collided with one during its landing attempt. Park stated unequivocally, "No matter how the wall complies with rules or not, we will immediately improve them in a way to prioritize safety." This initiative is the government's first actionable response following the disaster.
The accident occurred just minutes after the airport control tower alerted the pilot about potential bird strikes. Investigators are now examining the design of the runway's end, especially the concrete-topped embankments, which are thought to have exacerbated the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Initial assessments conducted by the joint investigation team, which includes experts from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing, have determined one of the engines may have suffered damage from bird strikes. Lee Seung-yeol, the investigation team's leader, mentioned during the briefing, "We have identified feathers within one of the engines, indicating a bird collision. Our team is currently determining whether the second engine was also struck." This information could prove pivotal for deciphering the sequence of events leading to the crash.
Four crew members and 175 passengers did not survive the incident. Among the victims were two Thai nationals, 45-year-old Jongluk and 22-year-old Sirinthorn Ja-ue. Jongluk's family has received aid from Jeju Air, including compensation for funeral expenses. Her father expressed his deep sorrow, stating, "Despite my grief, I find comfort seeing my daughter’s ashes being honored back home." The South Korean Ambassador, Park Yongmin, conveyed condolences from the government, expressing hope for improved airline safety.
To maintain transparency and objectivity, the government announced the exclusion of current and former senior officials from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board. This decision is aimed at preventing conflicts of interest, with the minister insisting, "To clearly determine the cause of the accident, we will follow international norms and domestic laws to uphold fairness." This measure is expected to bolster public confidence through the investigative process.
Currently, the investigation is focusing on data recovered from the cockpit voice recorder, which has been transcribed, and the flight data recorder, now sent to the U.S. for detailed analysis. Experts will need at least one week to download and analyze the data from the latter. Lee indicated it's premature to assign blame, noting they await concrete evidence from both recorders, stating, "It's too early to conclude what caused the crash. We will base our conclusions on the data we retrieve and examine any potential bird strikes we suspect may have impacted the flight."
Attempts to dissect the final moments of the Jeju Air flight reveal the need for increased oversight and possible revision of airport safety protocols across South Korea. The final findings of the investigation will undoubtedly shape future aviation policies to safeguard passenger safety and prevent such tragedies.