Direction of the investigation of the fatal aircraft crash in South Korea

Direction of the investigation of the fatal aircraft crash in South Korea

Little before the crash of the Jeju Air Fluges 2216, a passenger told a friend that the Boeing 737-800 type hit a bird. "Wait ... We cannot land because a bird (or bird) is caught in our wing," the passenger wrote at 9 a.m. on the Korean messaging platform KAKAOTETALK, as in the South Korean media, including the CNN partner JTBC. When asked "since when?" The passenger replied: "Right now ... should I leave the last words?" Before the contact broke off.

causes of the crash

The possible bird strike, the not driving of the chassis and a concrete protection wall could have contributed to the flight accident, which has been the most deadliest in South Korea since 1997. However, the exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined a few days after the tragedy. It could take months for the reasons for the crash of flight 2216 to be known. Sometimes the presumptions of the public differ from the actual causes that are determined after completing an investigation.

Cooperation between international authorities

US authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), work with the Aviation and Railway Accid Investigation Board South Korea to get further information on the incident.

Security balance of the Boeing 737-800

Despite the crash, the Boeing 737-800 has a very good security balance, in contrast to its successor model, the 737 Max, which had to deal with numerous problems. Boeing-daten from 1959 to 2023 737-800 only recorded 10 fatal accidents that damaged the aircraft beyond the repair value, which is one of the lowest rates in the industry, compared to the number of flights carried out.

Security management in South Korea

According to Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, a non -profit organization that identifies global security issues to improve aviation, South Korea's security balance is extraordinary. He emphasized that South Korean airlines have security management systems and have cut well at audits through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

First findings about the incident

Before the emergency landing, the pilot reported an emergency report and starting due to the bird strike, said Kang Jung-Hyun, a high-ranking official of the South Korean Ministry of Transport. The control tower had warned the pilot of birds in the area before the incident was reported. The fact that the pilot called "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" three times and used the terms "bird strike" and "starting" illustrates the serious situation.

accidents from bird strikes

worldwide have killed animal attacks on civil and military aircraft more than 491 people and destroyed over 350 aircraft between 1988 and 2023, according to a report by faa . In the United States, such incidents cost 76 people during this period and destroyed 126 planes.

Investigations and the role of the flight crew

How much a bird strike contributed to the crash is still uncertain. According to the pilot Erika Armstrong, who also worked for Boeing earlier, the incident has many facets and requires a careful examination. There are still many questions in the room that can only be clarified after the evaluation of the two "Black Boxes", the flight data writers and language records. She explained that a bird strike may have caused an engine failure, which could lead to a failure of the aircraft's hydraulics.

The challenges in the emergency landing

In aviation, emergencies are not uncommon and training for engine failures is standard. Statistically speaking, bird strikes are not common, but the incidents have increased in recent years. 19,603 incidents were registered in 2023, which corresponds to an increase of 14 % compared to 2022. Shahidi said that the investigators will check whether the bird strike has destroyed one or both engines, which would be of crucial importance.

a dangerous concrete protection wall

Another point of dispute among aviation experts is the concrete protection wall that the aircraft hit when landing. The crash cost 179 of the 181 people on board life, apart from two crew members who were recovered alive at the scene of the accident. The last fatal crash in South Korea occurred in 1997 when a Boeing 747 by Korean Air crashed into a jungle in Guam and killed 228 people. Many airports have no similar protection so close to the landingways, according to the experts.

how is it going?

US authorities are waiting for more information from South Korean officials. At least one US airline, Southwest Airlines, works with the investigators to learn more about the situation. Boeing's critics could have already started to blame the aircraft manufacturer for his years of mistake, but experts say that it was premature to accuse Boeing until more information becomes known. Armstrong expressed that it is inappropriate to point out pilot terror, even if the cause can often be with the staff.

The international federation of the airline pilot associations published one Explanation , in which she emphasizes that she is pursuing the developments in connection with the crash and closely working with the local member organization, Alpa-K, In summary, it remains to be said that it is important to continue the investigation and wait for a comprehensive evaluation of the facts. Experts agree that flying remains safe, despite the worrying incidents.