In-depth analysis of causes of South Korean passenger plane crash

On December 29, 2024, a shocking air disaster occurred at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Flight 7C2216 of Jeju Air, which originated from Bangkok, Thailand, deviated from the runway during its landing attempt and collided with the airport's perimeter fence, catching fire. All 179 people on board were killed, with only two survivors. This incident quickly drew global attention and discussion, and the analysis of the cause of the crash became the focus of public opinion.

I. Accident Details

According to the report from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea, the crashed aircraft made its first landing attempt on Runway 1 of Muan Airport in the morning but failed. It then took off again for a second attempt. However, during the second landing attempt, the aircraft failed to decelerate at the end of the runway and ultimately hit the airport's perimeter fence with its underbelly, causing severe damage to the fuselage and a fire. Eyewitness accounts and video footage show that the landing gear did not deploy properly during the forced landing, resulting in the fuselage coming into direct contact with the ground.

II. Preliminary Speculations on the Cause

1. Bird Strike Impact

The South Korean aviation industry and experts generally believe that bird strike was one of the key causes of this accident. According to Yonhap News Agency, air traffic controllers at the airport sent a bird strike alert to the crashed aircraft a few minutes before the accident. A surviving crew member also mentioned that the aircraft's engine was hit by a bird after being rescued. Additionally, eyewitnesses reported seeing sparks above the right engine and a flock of birds. These pieces of evidence all point to the possibility that bird strike could have caused mechanical failure in the aircraft.

2. Landing Gear Malfunction

The failure of the landing gear to deploy properly was the direct cause of the aircraft landing on its underbelly. South Korean aviation experts believe that bird strike may have caused the failure of the aircraft's engine or hydraulic system, thereby affecting the normal operation of the landing gear. However, there are still questions as to whether bird strike simultaneously caused the failure of all engines and hydraulic systems, and why other braking devices did not work.

3. Runway Length and Emergency Measures

Although the runway length of Muan International Airport is 2,800 meters, which complies with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization, some experts have pointed out that the runway length might have exacerbated the damage to some extent. After the aircraft's undercarriage touched the ground, it slid for about 1,000 meters before colliding with an obstacle due to excessive speed or the engines still providing power. If the runway were longer, it might have provided the pilot with more time and space to decelerate. Additionally, the airport's failure to promptly spray foam and other deceleration measures during the emergency might have affected the successful landing of the aircraft.

III. In-depth Analysis

1. The Impact of Bird Strikes on Aircraft

Bird strikes can have a significant destructive impact on high-speed aircraft. Data shows that a 900-gram green-headed duck colliding with an aircraft traveling at 370 kilometers per hour can generate an impact force of up to 4.8 tons. In this accident, the bird strike might have directly caused damage to the aircraft's engine or hydraulic system, thereby affecting the normal operation of the landing gear and other braking devices.

2. The Relationship between Landing Gear and Other Braking Devices

The landing gear is one of the important braking devices for aircraft during landing, but it is not the only braking method. Aircraft are also equipped with auxiliary braking devices such as reverse thrust from the engines and wing spoilers. In this accident, these devices also failed to function properly, further exacerbating the aircraft's loss of control. This has raised questions about the overall design and reliability of the aircraft's braking system.

3. The Effectiveness of Airport Emergency Measures

Emergency measures taken by airports in critical situations are crucial for ensuring flight safety. In this incident, Muan Airport failed to promptly implement deceleration measures such as foam spraying, which might have affected the successful emergency landing of the aircraft. This highlights the inadequacies in the airport's emergency management and response capabilities.

This air disaster once again reminds us that flight safety is an eternal theme in the aviation industry. Only by continuously strengthening safety management, improving technical levels, and perfecting emergency measures can we ensure the safety and smoothness of every flight.