The remains of a Jeju Air plane, which veered off the runway and crashed at Muan International Airport, rest near a concrete structure it struck during the incident in Muan, South Korea, on December 30, 2024. Reuters
A preliminary investigation into last month’s tragic Jeju Air crash has revealed that duck remains were found in both engines of the ill-fated plane. Authorities are still piecing together the exact cause of South Korea’s deadliest air disaster, which claimed 179 lives and left two survivors.
The report, released by South Korean officials a month after the accident, confirmed the presence of Baikal Teal DNA—a migratory duck species that winters in South Korea—in the engines of the Boeing 737-800. However, the findings have yet to explain why the plane landed without its landing gear or why flight data recorders stopped functioning minutes before the crash.
The flight, en route from Bangkok to Muan Airport, attempted an emergency landing on December 29 but overshot the runway. The plane crashed into an embankment supporting navigation equipment, causing a fire and a partial explosion. The impact scattered debris, including parts of the fuselage, up to 200 meters from the crash site.
Investigators have highlighted the role of the embankment and navigation equipment in the high death toll. The reinforced concrete structure, which supports the localiser aiding runway approaches, significantly amplified the crash's severity, according to experts.
Authorities plan to conduct a thorough teardown of the engines, examine their components, and analyse data from air traffic control and flight instruments. They will also evaluate evidence of a bird strike and the embankment’s role in the disaster.
“These extensive investigative measures aim to uncover the precise cause of the accident,” the report stated.
Initial findings revealed that the pilots had reported a flock of birds on the plane’s final approach, declaring an emergency (“Mayday x 3”) during an attempted go-around. However, the exact timing of the bird strike remains uncertain.
Additionally, investigators are puzzled by the simultaneous failure of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR). The data recorders stopped working when the aircraft was just 1.1 nautical miles from the runway, flying at an altitude of 498 feet and traveling at 161 knots.
South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has shared its preliminary findings with international agencies, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as officials from Thailand, the United States, and France, representing the plane and engine manufacturers.
Under ICAO guidelines, a preliminary report must be released within 30 days of an accident, with the final report encouraged within 12 months.
This devastating crash has cast a spotlight on bird strikes and their potential to cause catastrophic aviation disasters. While the investigation continues, families of the victims and aviation experts worldwide await answers to the unresolved questions surrounding this tragedy.
