What Led to the South Korean Plane Crash that Claimed 179 Lives?
Aviation analysts are investigating multiple factors that could have played a role in a tragic plane crash in South Korea that resulted in the deaths of 179 of the 181 individuals on the flight. Among the possible contributing causes being considered are a bird strike, a malfunction of the landing gear, the presence of a concrete structure close to the runway, and pilot error.
TroibNews 
Aviation analysts are investigating several factors that might have led to the tragic plane crash in South Korea on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of 179 of the 181 individuals on board.
Potential causes under examination include a bird strike, a malfunction in the landing gear, proximity to a concrete structure near the runway, and pilot error.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving at Muan International Airport from Bangkok, attempted to land shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday. During their scheduled approach, the pilots notified air traffic control that the aircraft had encountered a bird strike and subsequently issued a Mayday warning, indicating their intention to abort the landing and go around.
Not long after, the aircraft performed a belly landing approximately 1,200 meters down the 2,800-meter runway at Muan International Airport. It skidded off the runway and crashed into an embankment at the end of the landing strip, igniting a fireball upon impact. All 175 passengers and four of the six crew members lost their lives, with only two crew members surviving.
**Unanswered Questions**
Investigators are exploring various elements, including the role of bird strikes, the functionality of the aircraft's control systems, and the apparent haste of the pilots in trying to land after declaring an emergency, according to fire and transportation officials.
Experts highlight that many questions remain, particularly regarding why the Boeing 737-800, powered by two CFM 56-7B26 engines, appeared to be traveling at an excessive speed and why its landing gear failed to deploy while skidding along the runway and into a concrete embankment.
"I can't think of any reason for being forced to make a landing like this," said aviation safety expert John Nance, a former military and commercial pilot with experience flying 737s for Alaska Airlines. He pointed out that the high landing speed observed in videos suggests the pilots either could not or did not reduce the aircraft's velocity.
**Bird Strike**
The latest information from the South Korean government indicates the incident may be primarily linked to a bird strike. However, aviation experts express skepticism that a bird strike could lead to a complete failure of the landing gear.
Chen Jianguo, a senior Chinese pilot with 22 years of flying experience, noted on social media that while a bird strike might have caused a surge in the right engine, it should not typically interfere with the landing gear deployment. He explained that the landing gear is operated by hydraulic system A, which is primarily powered by the left engine.
An aviation expert speaking with the 21st Century Business Herald echoed this sentiment, stating that if bird strikes are managed properly, they shouldn't result in a disastrous outcome. There are various reasons a landing gear might fail to deploy, including hydraulic system failure or jammed bay doors.
**Concrete Wall**
Transport Ministry officials are also investigating the localizer antenna’s role, which assists with landing, located at the end of the runway on a concrete embankment.
"Normally, on an airport with a runway at the end, you don't have a wall," remarked Christian Beckert, a Lufthansa pilot and flight safety expert based in Munich. "You more have maybe an engineered material arresting system, which lets the airplane sink into the ground a little bit and brakes."
**Boeing 737-800**
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800, and the morning after the incident, another 15-year-old 737-800 from the same airline experienced a landing gear failure. In response, South Korea's Transport Ministry announced a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines starting on Monday, focusing on the critical components’ maintenance records.
The Boeing 737-800 is the predecessor to the Boeing 737 Max and a widely utilized model among airlines globally. According to aviation data platform Cirium, approximately 4,400 Boeing 737-800 aircraft remain in service around the world, making up about 15 percent of the global commercial fleet.
Professor Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering expert at the University of Southern California and a researcher of the safety history of the Boeing 737 series, highlighted that the aircraft involved in the crash has a strong safety record, with its landing gear design being well-engineered and highly reliable.
**South Korea to Inspect Entire Aircraft Operation System**
In the wake of the tragedy, South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered an emergency safety inspection of the nation’s entire airline operation on Monday, as investigators worked to identify victims and determine the causes of the deadliest air disaster in South Korean history.
"Before the final results are out, we ask that officials transparently disclose the accident investigation process and promptly inform the bereaved families," Choi said during a disaster management meeting in Seoul.
"As soon as the accident recovery is conducted, the Transport Ministry is requested to conduct an emergency safety inspection of the entire aircraft operation system to prevent recurrence of aircraft accidents," he added.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
Potential causes under examination include a bird strike, a malfunction in the landing gear, proximity to a concrete structure near the runway, and pilot error.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving at Muan International Airport from Bangkok, attempted to land shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday. During their scheduled approach, the pilots notified air traffic control that the aircraft had encountered a bird strike and subsequently issued a Mayday warning, indicating their intention to abort the landing and go around.
Not long after, the aircraft performed a belly landing approximately 1,200 meters down the 2,800-meter runway at Muan International Airport. It skidded off the runway and crashed into an embankment at the end of the landing strip, igniting a fireball upon impact. All 175 passengers and four of the six crew members lost their lives, with only two crew members surviving.
**Unanswered Questions**
Investigators are exploring various elements, including the role of bird strikes, the functionality of the aircraft's control systems, and the apparent haste of the pilots in trying to land after declaring an emergency, according to fire and transportation officials.
Experts highlight that many questions remain, particularly regarding why the Boeing 737-800, powered by two CFM 56-7B26 engines, appeared to be traveling at an excessive speed and why its landing gear failed to deploy while skidding along the runway and into a concrete embankment.
"I can't think of any reason for being forced to make a landing like this," said aviation safety expert John Nance, a former military and commercial pilot with experience flying 737s for Alaska Airlines. He pointed out that the high landing speed observed in videos suggests the pilots either could not or did not reduce the aircraft's velocity.
**Bird Strike**
The latest information from the South Korean government indicates the incident may be primarily linked to a bird strike. However, aviation experts express skepticism that a bird strike could lead to a complete failure of the landing gear.
Chen Jianguo, a senior Chinese pilot with 22 years of flying experience, noted on social media that while a bird strike might have caused a surge in the right engine, it should not typically interfere with the landing gear deployment. He explained that the landing gear is operated by hydraulic system A, which is primarily powered by the left engine.
An aviation expert speaking with the 21st Century Business Herald echoed this sentiment, stating that if bird strikes are managed properly, they shouldn't result in a disastrous outcome. There are various reasons a landing gear might fail to deploy, including hydraulic system failure or jammed bay doors.
**Concrete Wall**
Transport Ministry officials are also investigating the localizer antenna’s role, which assists with landing, located at the end of the runway on a concrete embankment.
"Normally, on an airport with a runway at the end, you don't have a wall," remarked Christian Beckert, a Lufthansa pilot and flight safety expert based in Munich. "You more have maybe an engineered material arresting system, which lets the airplane sink into the ground a little bit and brakes."
**Boeing 737-800**
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800, and the morning after the incident, another 15-year-old 737-800 from the same airline experienced a landing gear failure. In response, South Korea's Transport Ministry announced a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by South Korean airlines starting on Monday, focusing on the critical components’ maintenance records.
The Boeing 737-800 is the predecessor to the Boeing 737 Max and a widely utilized model among airlines globally. According to aviation data platform Cirium, approximately 4,400 Boeing 737-800 aircraft remain in service around the world, making up about 15 percent of the global commercial fleet.
Professor Najmedin Meshkati, an engineering expert at the University of Southern California and a researcher of the safety history of the Boeing 737 series, highlighted that the aircraft involved in the crash has a strong safety record, with its landing gear design being well-engineered and highly reliable.
**South Korea to Inspect Entire Aircraft Operation System**
In the wake of the tragedy, South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered an emergency safety inspection of the nation’s entire airline operation on Monday, as investigators worked to identify victims and determine the causes of the deadliest air disaster in South Korean history.
"Before the final results are out, we ask that officials transparently disclose the accident investigation process and promptly inform the bereaved families," Choi said during a disaster management meeting in Seoul.
"As soon as the accident recovery is conducted, the Transport Ministry is requested to conduct an emergency safety inspection of the entire aircraft operation system to prevent recurrence of aircraft accidents," he added.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
