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Bird Feathers and Blood Found in Engines of Crashed Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 Jet in Muan County, Killing 179

Jan 17, 2025, 06:35 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 179 deaths. The aircraft, which was en route from Bangkok, attempted a belly landing and overshot the runway, subsequently bursting into flames after hitting an embankment. Only two crew members at the rear of the plane survived what has been described as the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil. The crash was preceded by a reported bird strike about four minutes before the incident, prompting the pilot to declare an emergency and attempt a go-around to land on the opposite end of the runway. Air traffic control had warned of bird activity in the area two minutes before the emergency call. The presence of feathers and blood in both engines suggests that a bird strike may have contributed to the failure of both engines, leading to a power shutdown.