Official announcements from South Korean aviation regulatory bodies

Bird Strike Suspected in Fatal Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 Crash in Muan County, South Korea, Killing 179

Jan 17, 2025, 06:50 AM

Investigators have discovered bird feathers and blood in both engines of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 jet that crashed in South Korea's Muan county on December 29, resulting in the deaths of 179 people. The aircraft, en route from Bangkok, attempted a belly landing and overshot the runway, crashing into an embankment and bursting into flames. Only two crew members at the rear of the aircraft survived. The crash is considered the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil. Four minutes prior to the crash, a pilot reported a bird strike and declared an emergency. Air traffic control had warned of bird activity in the area two minutes before the emergency call. The discovery of feathers and blood in both engines suggests that a bird strike may have caused both engines to fail, leading to the fatal accident.