29th December 2024 – (Seoul) The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has revealed that the control tower at Muan Airport issued a bird strike warning to the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 shortly before the aircraft’s disastrous crash this morning. Just one minute after the alert, the pilot declared a “MAYDAY” emergency signal, but the aircraft subsequently lost control and crashed shortly thereafter.
The ill-fated flight, numbered 7C 2216, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members when it attempted to land at Muan Airport. Initial investigations suggest that a bird strike may have compromised the landing gear, preventing it from deploying properly. As the aircraft descended, it veered off the runway, colliding violently with a protective wall, resulting in an explosion and the aircraft breaking into two.
Despite the runway’s length of 2,800 metres, officials have dismissed the possibility that insufficient runway space contributed to the accident. As search and rescue operations continue, only two survivors have been confirmed, with the remains of 124 individuals as of the latest reports.
The acting Prime Minister, Choi Sang-mok, has designated Muan County as a special disaster area and ordered the suspension of all flights at the airport. The investigation will focus on the bird strike alert, adverse weather conditions, and other factors that may have played a role in this tragic incident.
