An engine of the Boeing 737-800 which crashed on December 29, 2024 at Muan Airport, killing 179 people, had been damaged by birds. In a report, the South Korean investigation office points to a piloting error, a theory criticized by the families of victims.
The survey conducted by South Korea in the fatal accident of the Jeju Air plane on December 29, 2024 made it possible to collect “Obvious evidence” That the pilot cut the least damaged engine after a collision with a bird, a source close to the investigation in Reuters said on Monday. The evidence – including the cockpit voice recorder, the computer data and an engine switch found in the wreck – show that the pilot has turned off the left engine instead of the right engine when he took emergency measures after the impact with a bird, which occurred shortly before the planned landing.
“The investigators’ team has clear elements and backup data, so its conclusions will not change”said a source to Reuters on condition of anonymity, as investigators did not publish an official report including these evidence. A government source said that examining the engines recovered from the plane confirmed that they had no defects before the impact with the bird and the crash.
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The Boeing 737-800 crash on December 29 at Muan airport left 179 dead among the 181 passengers and crew members on board, making it the deadliest air disaster on the South Korean soil. On Saturday, the investigators told the families of the victims that the right engine had been damaged by the bird than the left, and that there were circumstantial elements showing that the pilot had extinguished the left engine, however less reached.
The Korean Office of Investigation into Air and Railway Accidents (ARAIB), which leads the investigation, did not wish to react to our colleagues. According to international rules, a final report is expected in the year following the accident. A preliminary report published in January indicated that duck remains had been found in the two engines of the Jeju Air plane after the crash, but did not specify the extent of the damage or debris found in each engine.
Families of critical victims towards the report
The families of the victims of the accident were informed of the report before its planned publication, but opposed its dissemination, believing that it seemed to assign the pilot to the pilot without exploring other contributory factors, according to the lawyers representing families. The Boeing 737-800 came out of the track of Muan’s airport during an emergency landing on the belly and crashed on an embankment containing navigation equipment, which caused a fire and a partial explosion.
Representatives of the families of the victims and the Jeju Air pilot union said this weekend that the investigation was also to focus on the embankment, which, according to aviation experts, probably contributed to the high number of victims. The Jeju Air pilots union accused the Araib “To mislead the public” By suggesting that there was no problem with the left engine, while traces of birds had been found in the two engines. The union also criticizes the ARAIB for wanting to make pilots of “Scapegoats”without scientifically demonstrating that the plane could have landed safely with the only activated left engine.
“Air accidents are complex events, due to a combination of factors”recalled the union, adding that no evidence had been produced to date to support the idea that the pilot’s error would be the main cause of the drama. Investigators have so far “Dumb on the responsibility of the organization”said the union.
The bereaved families ask that all the facts surrounding the incident be clarified.
