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The Independent
15-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
South Korea ignored repeated bird strike warnings before Jeju Air disaster
South Korean aviation authorities were reportedly warned about a high risk of bird strikes near the Muan international airport before a Jeju Air flight crashed there in December, killing 179 people in the country's worst air disaster. Ten days before the fatal incident, a dozen officials met at the airport to review an alarming rise in bird strike incidents. Bird strikes – when birds collide with aircraft – are a known hazard to aviation, particularly near wetlands or migratory flyways. They can damage engines and fuselages, and in rare cases, lead to crashes. At that meeting of the bird strike prevention committee late last year, an official from a national aviation training institute flagged that incoming planes regularly encountered large flocks of birds along the coast. 'To what extent is it possible to keep the birds away?' the official asked, according to records obtained by a lawmaker, reported the New York Times, without disclosing the name of the official. The response was sobering. An official from the company overseeing airport operations admitted that there weren't enough personnel or vehicles to drive birds away, and said the loudspeakers meant to frighten them were ineffective beyond airport boundaries. 'They were trying their best,' the official added, according to the American paper. Jeju Air Flight 2216 was on approach at Muan on 29 December when the pilot issued a distress call: 'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' A bird strike had occurred. Moments later, the Boeing 737-800 hit the tarmac without the landing gear, skidded off the runway, and crashed into a concrete barrier, erupting in flames. Only two of the 181 people on board survived. While investigators have not yet formally determined the cause of the crash, South Korea 's transport ministry has confirmed the presence of bird feathers and blood in both engines. The remains belong to the Baikal teal, a species of migratory duck that arrives in South Korea in large flocks during the winter months. The issue had been known for years. Government documents, environmental assessments, and eyewitness accounts seen by The New York Times revealed that warnings about the area's high bird population predated the airport's opening in 2007. A 2020 environmental impact review conducted for runway expansion work explicitly cautioned of a 'high risk of bird strikes during takeoff and landing' and called for mitigation strategies. Korea Airports Corporation, the national airport authority, earlier stated it had taken steps to reduce the danger, including environmental monitoring, vehicle patrols, and noise-based bird dispersal systems. It also said that additional loudspeakers were installed after the 19 December meeting. But Muan and several smaller airports still lacked essential technology recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation like bird detection radar and thermal imaging cameras, designed to alert air traffic controllers and pilots to avian activity in real time. In the wake of the tragedy, South Korea mandated the installation of such detection systems at all airports in the country. It also pledged to dismantle the concrete barrier at the end of the Muan runway that the aircraft collided with. Currently, only four airports – Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju – are equipped with thermal cameras. Starting in March this year, all 15 domestic airports are expected to receive both thermal imaging and bird detection radars. 'These radars will detect and relay the size and direction of birds to air traffic controllers and pilots,' the ministry said in a statement. The Jeju Air pilot had been warned of increased bird activity in the area shortly before the crash. A preliminary accident report released last month revealed the aircraft's black box had stopped recording four minutes before impact.
Observer
15-04-2025
- General
- Observer
Airport was repeatedly warned about bird strikes before South Korea crash
MUAN, South Korea — The latest warning came 10 days before the deadliest air crash in South Korea. A dozen officials gathered inside a room at Muan International Airport for a meeting of a bird strike prevention committee, where they discussed the number of aircraft being hit by birds, with data showing a jump in incidents over the past couple of years. One official, from one of the country's aviation training institutes, expressed concern that planes coming in to land often encountered flocks of birds by the coastline, according to a record of the meeting obtained by a lawmaker. To what extent is it possible to keep the birds away? The official asked. The answer wasn't reassuring. There weren't enough people and cars deployed at the airport to keep birds away, and sounds from loudspeakers used to broadcast noises to scare birds off weren't strong enough to reach far enough beyond the airport, said an official from the company that managed the airport's facilities. He noted that they 'were trying their best.' Then, on Dec. 29, the pilot of Jeju Air Flight 2216 declared 'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' and told air traffic controllers there had been a bird strike as the plane was making its descent. After making a sharp turn, the jet landed on its belly, slid down the runway, and rammed into a concrete barrier, exploding into a fireball that killed 179 of the 181 people on board. Investigators have not identified the reasons for the crash and what role, if any, a bird strike might have played. But the country's Transport Ministry said bird feathers and blood were found in both of the jet's engines. The remains were identified as being from the Baikal teal, a migratory duck common to South Korea in winter that often flies in flocks of up to tens or even hundreds of thousands. The Dec. 19 meeting was not the first warning airport operators had received about birds. The dangers had been flagged for decades, dating back to even before the Muan airport opened in 2007, according to a New York Times examination of thousands of pages of government documents, interviews with dozens of people, and a visit to the wetlands surrounding the airport in the country's southwest. Environmental assessments in 1998 and 2008 also noted there were many species of birds living close to the airport. Most starkly, in 2020, when the airport began renovations that would include the extension of its runway, South Korea's Environmental Impact Assessment service said there was 'a high risk of bird strikes during takeoff and landing.' It was advised that measures were needed to reduce the risk. The Korea Airports Corp. said in response to questions from the Times that to prevent bird strikes it had used vehicles and noise makers to disperse flocks of birds and had conducted environmental surveys to monitor the airport's surrounding habitats. The company said more loudspeakers were installed on airport premises after the meeting Dec. 19. But like most smaller airports in South Korea, Muan still lacked thermal imaging cameras and bird detection radar used to alert air traffic controllers and pilots to the presence of birds, according to the government. Airports everywhere are advised to have such measures in place, according to guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency that sets global standards for the aviation industry. 'The regulations are there, but people have been breaking them without any repercussions,' says Dr. Nial Moores, the national director of Birds Korea, a bird conservation group. 'They were warned about the risk of a bird strike,' he added. 'How come nothing has changed?' In addition to failing to follow international guidelines, the airport's operators also breached domestic safety regulations. On the day of the crash in Muan, only one person was on duty to watch out for birds, instead of a minimum of two that government rules require, according to lawmakers at a parliamentary committee hearing into the disaster. That bird patroller was at the end of a 15-hour night shift, the period when the vast majority of bird strikes take place, according to a presentation by Moon Geum-joo, a lawmaker, at the committee hearing. Joo Jong-wan, the head of the Transport Ministry's aviation policy, conceded that the airport's patrol was understaffed and said all airports would meet the minimum staffing in the future. The Korea Airports Corp. said it had adhered to government standards and was hiring more staff to prevent bird collisions. The Transport Ministry declined to comment. In addition, at least one person required to attend the meeting of the bird strike prevention committee had missed the Dec. 19 meeting, an official from the Korea Airports Corp. acknowledged at the parliamentary hearing. The state-owned company operates almost all of South Korea's airports, including the one in Muan. 'It's a shame that they have known about their shortcomings for years, but nothing has been done to improve,' said Kwon Hyang-Yup, an opposition lawmaker who obtained the bird safety committee report. While airplane strikes with wildlife are not uncommon, most don't cause planes to crash. Out of nearly 20,000 wildlife strikes in the United States in 2023, about 4% caused damage to the plane. Since the crash, South Korea's government has pledged 247 billion won (about $170 million) over three years to improve bird-strike prevention measures at all the country's airports. Planned measures include installing bird detection devices and implementing a national radar model to alert people in control towers, patrollers on the ground, and pilots to the presence of birds. Some experts ask whether the Muan airport should have been built at all because of the abundance of birds in the wetlands surrounding it. The airport has at least twice reported the highest number of bird strikes out of the country's 15 airports over the past five years, with six cases in 2024, up from two the previous year. Its rate of bird strikes was 10 times that of Incheon International Airport, the nation's largest, according to data released by Kwon, the lawmaker. Incheon, which also lies close to bird habitats, has identified almost 100 species of birds in its vicinity. It has four thermal imaging cameras, two devices that emit bird-repelling noises, and 48 workers assigned to bird control, according to an airport representative. Ju Yung-Ki, a researcher and conservationist who has visited the Muan area repeatedly in recent years, was working in his office Dec. 29 when he learned about the plane crash. 'I had always thought there was a risk of a bird strike there,' said Ju, the director of the Ecoculture Institute. Ju had flown in and out of the Muan airport several times, despite his concerns. After hearing news of the crash, he traveled about 70 miles from his home in Jeonju, northeast of Muan, to a lake near the airport and arrived about 4:30 p.m. He could see the charred tail of the plane and the wreckage at the end of the runway. 'It was horrific,' he said, adding that he shed tears thinking about the people who had died. As that afternoon progressed, he also located flocks of up to 300,000 Baikal teals about 18 miles from the airport. They fly at least that distance to search for food, and he observed with binoculars and a telescope that the airport was in their daily flight path. The Baikal teal isn't particularly big, at about 16 inches long with an 8-inch wingspan. But the ducks move in large, agile flocks that can reach as many as 1 million in number, said Moores of Birds Korea. They breed in Siberia and arrive on the southwestern coast of South Korea in October and stay through early March. Muan, almost 200 miles south of Seoul, lies among the marshy grasslands and reservoirs across the southwestern peninsula, where the ducks and other species of birds roost in pockets of calm water. Local business owners said that flocks of birds were most often seen at a country club near the airport, about 4 miles away. An enforcement regulation attached to South Korea's Airport Facilities Act in 2017 stipulates that an airport cannot be built within 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) of a bird sanctuary or game reserve. But, according to the nation's environment ministry, there is only one such sanctuary in Muan, and that lies about 12 miles from the airport. Conservationists say the reality is different. They say the term sanctuary — classified as a collective habitat and breeding ground for endangered wildlife — ignores many of the region's populous bird habitats. A map by the Korean Office of Civil Aviation identifies four areas surrounding the Muan airport where birds feed and roost. Some of those spots are as close as a little over a mile from the airport. On one morning in February, hundreds of birds flew overhead at around this distance. Larger birds flew in a 'V' formation, while smaller ones wove in and out in an aerial dance. 'It's not a matter of whether the Muan International Airport is near a sanctuary or not,' Ju said. 'The fact is that there are a lot of birds that live there.' The decision on whether an area is a sanctuary lies with the mayor or governor, according to South Korea's Wildlife Protection and Management Act. There are about 400 of these protected areas nationwide, according to the Ministry of Environment. Experts say that no matter how many preventive efforts are undertaken, bird strikes cannot be eliminated. 'The obvious thing is not to build an airport where there are a lot of birds,' said Keith Mackey, an American aviation expert and safety consultant based in Ocala, Florida. Other methods that could be deployed to deter birds include using brightly colored paint on the runway and drones to disperse nearby flocks, Mackey said. Muan's airport has been closed since the Dec. 29 crash and will not resume commercial flights until April 18 at the earliest. The airport recently resumed medical and training flights. South Korea has ambitious plans to build 10 airports over the next few decades in response to booming regional demand for increased overseas travel. Several will also be along the western coastline. One is of particular concern to conservationists: in Saemangeum, about 65 miles north of Muan. The proposed airport, which is scheduled to open in 2029, lies within 4 miles of the Seocheon Tidal Flat, a UNESCO Heritage Site that is home to dozens of nationally protected wildlife species including birds, according to Kim Nahee, an activist who is protesting against the construction of the new airport. Officials in North Jeolla province, where Saemangeum is located, said 'there was no infrastructure that would disturb the flight path of birds,' citing an analysis it had received from the government environmental agency. 'They shouldn't have built the Muan International Airport where they did,' Kim said. 'This can't happen again.' This article originally appeared in
New York Times
15-04-2025
- General
- New York Times
Airport Was Repeatedly Warned on Bird Strikes Before Deadly South Korea Crash
The latest warning came 10 days before the deadliest air crash in South Korea. A dozen officials gathered inside a room at Muan International Airport for a meeting of a bird strike prevention committee, where they discussed the number of aircraft being hit by birds, with data showing a jump in incidents over the past couple of years. One official, from one of the country's aviation training institutes, expressed concern that planes coming in to land often encountered flocks of birds by the coastline, according to a record of the meeting obtained by a lawmaker. To what extent is it possible to keep the birds away? the official asked. The answer wasn't reassuring. There weren't enough people and cars deployed at the airport to keep birds away, and sounds from loudspeakers used to broadcast noises to scare birds off weren't strong enough to reach far enough beyond the airport, said an official from the company that managed the airport's facilities. He noted that they 'were trying their best.' Then, on Dec. 29, the pilot of Jeju Air Flight 2216 declared 'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' and told air traffic controllers there had been a bird strike as the plane was making its descent. After making a sharp turn, the jet landed on its belly, slid down the runway and rammed into a concrete barrier, exploding into a fireball that killed 179 of the 181 people on board. The Muan airport is surrounded by bird habitats Seoul SOUTH KOREA Muan MUAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Bird habitats Path of Jeju Air plane on Dec. 29 N 0.5 mile Seoul SOUTH KOREA Muan MUAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Bird habitats Path of Jeju Air plane on Dec. 29 N 0.75 mile Sources: Korea Office of Civil Aviation; satellite image by Planet Labs By Agnes Chang Investigators have not identified the reasons for the crash and what role, if any, a bird strike might have played. But the country's transport ministry said bird feathers and blood were found in both of the jet's engines. The remains were identified as being from the Baikal teal, a migratory duck common to South Korea in winter that often flies in flocks of up to tens or even hundreds of thousands. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bird Feathers and Blood Stains Found in Engines of South Korean Plane That Crashed into Wall, Killing 179
Evidence of a bird strike has reportedly been found in the Jeju Air plane that crashed into a wall at a South Korean airport, killing 179 people. A preliminary report published on Monday, Jan. 27, said feathers and blood stains were found in both engines of the Boeing 737-800 that crashed at Muan International Airport airport on Dec. 29, according to CNN and the BBC. The report said a flock of Baikal teal, a migratory bird commonly found in East Asia, is believed to have been involved in the crash, Fox News reported. Additionally, the report confirmed that flight data and cockpit voice recorders stopped working prior to the crash and that the final four minutes of the recordings are missing, according to ABC News. Shortly before the end of the recording, air traffic control warned the airplane to be 'cautious of bird activity," the outlet reported. Related: 61 People Killed in Passenger Plane Crash in Brazil That Was Caught on Video The report said the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) intends to 'tear down the engines' and examine the components 'in depth.' 'These all-out investigation activities aim to determine the accurate cause of the accident,' the report added, according to CNN and ABC News. It was the deadliest air crash in South Korean history. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae said the aircraft 'caught fire while landing' at the airport. Related: What Happened in Final Minutes Before South Korean Plane Crash Disaster: Do They Hold the Key to What Went Wrong? All but two of the individuals onboard Jeju Air flight 7C2216 were killed in the collision. The two survivors were flight attendants, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to The Guardian, the duo was rescued with 'mid to severe' injuries from the tail section of the wreckage. Related: Families Cry and Demand Answers as They Learn Loved Ones Are Among 179 Victims Killed in South Korea Crash The ages of the 179 victims killed in the crash ranged from 3 to 78, though most of the victims were in their 40s, 50s and 60s, according to a previous report from BBC News. Authorities said a 3-year-old boy was among those killed in the crash, CNN previously reported. Read the original article on People
Telegraph
27-01-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Duck remains found in crashed South Korea plane's engines
Duck remains were found in both engines of the Jeju passenger jet The first preliminary report released on Monday suggests a The exact cause of the crash remains unclear and the The feathers and blood stains found in the engines were from the Baikal teal, a migratory duck that flies to South Korea for winter in large flocks, according to investigators. The six-page report gave no indication about what might have led the Boeing 737-800 jet to land far down the runway without its landing gear deployed, highlighting a lack of clues. The investigation has been complicated by the discovery that the plane's two black boxes stopped recording four minutes before impact. The engines will be torn apart and the concrete structure will be investigated further, the report said of its next steps. Experts say air accidents are nearly always caused by a cocktail of factors. The Jeju Air flight from Bangkok was travelling to Muan International Airport on the southwest tip of the Korean peninsula on the morning of Dec 29. At 8.57am local time, the control tower advised the approaching plane to be cautious of 'bird activity'. Two minutes later, the pilot reported that the plane had struck a bird and declared a mayday signal, asking to land from the opposite direction. The plane then overshot the runway as it It then hit a concrete barrier at the end of the runway The reinforced concrete embankment contained a navigation system, known as a localiser, that aids navigation of an aircraft as it comes into land. The report said that the structure likely Concrete barriers to be removed South Korea's transport ministry said last week it would remove the concrete barriers used for navigation at seven airports across the country following the Jeju Air plane crash. It will also be extending their runway safety areas after finding they were shorter than recommended. 'After the crash into the embankment, fire and a partial explosion occurred. Both engines were buried in the embankment's soil mound, and the fore fuselage scattered up to 30-200 metres from the embankment,' the report said, providing some new pictures of the accident site. 'These all-out investigation activities aim to determine the accurate cause of the accident,' it said. The preliminary report has been submitted to the United Nations' aviation agency as well as the authorities of the United States, France and Thailand because the engines are jointly produced by US and French companies, while two Thai citizens were killed on the plane.
