Officials say air traffic controllers warned aircraft about bird strike risks minutes before crash
Raphael Rashid
Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul
A bird strike has emerged as a possible factor in Sunday’s crash, after officials revealed that air traffic controllers warned the aircraft about bird strike risks minutes before the accident and one of the surviving crew members reportedly mentioned a bird strike after being rescued. While the exact cause remains under investigation, the incident has drawn attention to Muan International Airport’s history with such incidents, reports Yonhap News.
The airport has recorded the highest rate of bird strikes among South Korea’s 14 regional airports, with 10 incidents reported between 2019 and August this year, according to data submitted to parliament by the Korea Airports Corporation.
Though the absolute number is small, making it difficult to generalise into meaningful statistics, the strike rate of 0.09% of flights is significantly higher than other major airports like Gimpo (0.018%) and Jeju (0.013%).
Aviation experts say bird strikes can be catastrophic. The risk is particularly high at Muan due to its location near fields and coastal areas.
Nationwide bird strike incidents have been steadily increasing, from 108 in 2019 to 152 last year. Some suggest this rise could be linked to climate change, with migratory birds becoming permanent residents and shifts occurring in both the timing and species of birds appearing at airports. Airports employ various countermeasures including sound deterrents and monitoring systems, while some are now exploring AI and radar technology to track bird movements.
Key events
South Korea declares seven-day national mourning period over plane crash
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has declared a period of national mourning until 4 January over the plane crash at Muan international airport that killed at 1east 177 people.
“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in this unexpected tragedy,” he was quoted as saying.
The incident is the first major test for Choi, who assumed office on Friday after South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach the previous acting president, Han Duck-soo.
What we know so far…
-
At least 177 people were killed in the deadliest air accident ever in South Korea on Sunday after a plane – flying from Bangkok – crashed while landing at Muan international airport shortly after 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT).
-
181 people were on board the plane at the time of the crash – including six crew members.
-
Two people, both crew members, were rescued from the wreckage and taken to hospital. They suffered “mid to severe” injuries, authorities said. Officials have suggested the rest on board are presumed dead.
-
84 women, 82 men and 11 others whose genders weren’t immediately identifiable died in the fire, the South Korean fire agency reported. Two people remained missing nine hours after the incident.
-
According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old. Five of the people who were killed in the crash were children under the age of 10.
-
A local fire official said the crash could have been caused by a bird strike and weather conditions, but the exact cause is not yet known.
-
The plane involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800 flown by Korean budget airline Jeju Air.
-
A transport ministry official said workers had retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the plane’s black box. They will be examined by government experts. The runway is expected to be closed until 1 January.
-
Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident, bowing deeply during a televised briefing. He said the aircraft had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction.
-
Over 1,500 emergency personnel have been deployed to the site and a special disaster zone has been enforced.
You can read more of the latest developments here.
Raphael Rashid
Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul
Airport staff have revealed that an unusually large flock of birds was spotted over Muan International Airport’s runway on Sunday morning, hours before the crash. “Staff members all said they had never seen so many birds before. They suddenly flew in from outside the airport,” an anonymous airport official told OhmyNews, adding that such a concentration of birds was never seen before.
The sighting raises questions about the adequacy of the airport’s bird control measures. While South Korean law requires airports to maintain year-round bird deterrent activities with dedicated personnel and equipment, it remains unclear what specific actions were taken in response to Sunday morning’s bird activity.
The transport ministry has previously confirmed that air traffic controllers warned the Jeju Air flight about bird strike risks at 08:57, with the pilot declaring a mayday one minute later. Footage taken as the aircraft approached the airport appears to show unusual flames coming from its right engine.
Five people killed in crash were children under the age of 10 – authorities
The Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok had 175 passengers, including two Thai nationals, and six crew onboard.
According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old.
Five of the people who were killed in the crash were children under the age of 10, authorities said, citing the passenger manifest. Most of the passengers were in their 40s, 50s and 60s, South Korean Yonhap news agency reports.
Here is a video of the moment the Boeing 737-800 skidded along the runway before hitting what appeared to be a concrete barrier and bursting into flames at South Korea’s Muan airport (this video may be distressing to some people):
Death toll from plane crash rises to 177 – South Korean fire agency says
At least 177 people – 84 women, 82 men and 11 others whose genders weren’t immediately identifiable – died in the fire, the South Korean fire agency has said in its latest update. Emergency workers pulled two people, both crew members, to safety. Health officials said they are conscious and not in life-threatening condition.
Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has sent condolences to the families of those killed in the deadly plane crash. “We have received terrible news of a plane crash in South Korea with many fatalities. Our condolences go out to the families of those killed in the crash and we wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he wrote in a post on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said:
On behalf of the Ukrainian people and myself, I extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the people of Korea, and Acting President Choi Sang-mok. We share your sorrow and stand with the Korean people in this time of grief.
Death toll rises to 176, officials say
Raphael Rashid
The death toll from Sunday’s Jeju Air crash has climbed to 176, with three people still missing, South Korea’s fire agency has announced.
Search teams will continue working through the night to locate the remaining three missing persons. Only two crew members are understood to have survived.
Investigators recover both black boxes from wreckage of plane – transport ministry
Raphael Rashid
According to the transport ministry, investigators have recovered both black boxes from the wreckage: the cockpit voice recorder at 11:30 and the flight data recorder at 14:24. Eight aircraft accident investigators and nine aviation safety inspectors are conducting initial investigations at the scene.
More than 1,500 personnel have been mobilised for the rescue and recovery operation, including 490 firefighters, 455 police officers, and 340 military personnel.
The airport’s runway will remain closed until 05:00 on 1 January 2025, though this timeframe may be adjusted.
A temporary morgue has been set up at the airport, with authorities working with families to arrange transfers of identified victims to external facilities.
Officials say air traffic controllers warned aircraft about bird strike risks minutes before crash
Raphael Rashid
Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul
A bird strike has emerged as a possible factor in Sunday’s crash, after officials revealed that air traffic controllers warned the aircraft about bird strike risks minutes before the accident and one of the surviving crew members reportedly mentioned a bird strike after being rescued. While the exact cause remains under investigation, the incident has drawn attention to Muan International Airport’s history with such incidents, reports Yonhap News.
The airport has recorded the highest rate of bird strikes among South Korea’s 14 regional airports, with 10 incidents reported between 2019 and August this year, according to data submitted to parliament by the Korea Airports Corporation.
Though the absolute number is small, making it difficult to generalise into meaningful statistics, the strike rate of 0.09% of flights is significantly higher than other major airports like Gimpo (0.018%) and Jeju (0.013%).
Aviation experts say bird strikes can be catastrophic. The risk is particularly high at Muan due to its location near fields and coastal areas.
Nationwide bird strike incidents have been steadily increasing, from 108 in 2019 to 152 last year. Some suggest this rise could be linked to climate change, with migratory birds becoming permanent residents and shifts occurring in both the timing and species of birds appearing at airports. Airports employ various countermeasures including sound deterrents and monitoring systems, while some are now exploring AI and radar technology to track bird movements.
All flights arriving at South Korea’s Muan international airport have been cancelled on Sunday, the Korea Airports Corporation said this morning.
Hours after the crash (the plane was attempting to land shortly after 9am local time/00.00 GMT)), family members gathered in the airport’s arrival area. They could be heard screaming and crying as medics announced the names of 22 victims so far identified by their fingerprints, according to Reuters. Papers were circulated for families to write down their contact details. Two flight staff (one male and one female) were found alive and transported to hospital, the fire agency said. The rest of the 181 people aboard are presumed to have died, though this has not been officially confirmed yet.