Preliminary Report Links South Korea's Deadliest Plane Crash to Bird Strikes and Runway Barrier

Investigators found Baikal teal remains in both engines and are examining multiple factors, including black box failures and a concrete runway structure.

The Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash on December 29, 2024, killed 179 of the 181 people on board, making it the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil.
A preliminary investigation confirmed bird feathers and blood from Baikal teals, a migratory duck, were found in both engines, suggesting bird strikes during landing attempts.
Both black boxes stopped recording four minutes before the crash, complicating efforts to determine why the plane landed without deploying landing gear or wing flaps.
The plane collided with a reinforced concrete structure housing navigation equipment, which experts say likely worsened the crash's impact and death toll.
South Korea has announced plans to replace similar concrete runway structures nationwide with breakable materials to improve safety at airports.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation