World leaders have extended their condolences to South Korea following the nation’s most devastating aviation disaster, which claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew aboard Jeju Air Flight. The Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport and erupted in flames, leaving only two crew members as survivors. As investigators delve into the tragedy, they have recovered both flight recorders in an effort to determine the cause of the crash.
Preliminary reports suggest that the incident may have been triggered by a bird strike, a phenomenon that aviation experts say can pose serious risks to aircraft. Steven Wright, the head of Aviation and Transport at the Technological University of Dublin, provided insight into how small birds can lead to catastrophic outcomes for large planes. In coastal areas like Muan, where the airport is situated near the sea, flocks of birds can present significant hazards during landing. Air Traffic Control had issued warnings about the presence of birds in the vicinity, potentially indicating that the aircraft may have encountered a flock as it approached the runway.
Birds can be ingested into an aircraft’s engines, causing substantial damage and resulting in a loss of thrust. This can lead to the failure of critical systems, including hydraulics and electrical components, which are vital for safe landings. Wright noted that while airports typically implement measures to mitigate the risk of bird strikes—such as scaring birds away and preventing nesting near runways—incidents still occur.
Another troubling aspect of the crash is the failure of the aircraft to lower its landing gear. While the exact reason remains unclear, Wright speculated that the hydraulic systems necessary for extending the landing gear may have malfunctioned. Typically, aircraft are designed with an emergency mechanism that allows pilots to manually deploy landing gear if hydraulic systems fail. The investigation will focus on the flight recorders to uncover why this critical system did not operate as intended.
The emergency response to the crash has also come under scrutiny, particularly regarding the use of foam to suppress potential fires during the landing. Wright explained that runways are extensive, often measuring up to 3 kilometers, making it challenging to effectively cover such vast areas with foam in a timely manner. Additionally, the aircraft had initially planned to land from the sea but altered its approach, which complicated the response.
Compounding the tragedy, the plane struck a concrete structure that supports the instrument landing system at the end of the runway upon skidding off the tarmac, further exacerbating the destruction of the aircraft. In South Korea, many airports, including Muan International, are designed with security measures that include perimeter walls, often featuring razor wire, to deter unauthorized entry.
As investigations continue, the aviation community and the world remain focused on understanding the factors that led to this heartbreaking disaster. The recovery of flight recorders will be pivotal in piecing together the final moments of Jeju Air Flight and ensuring that lessons are learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
