South Korea Mandates Bird Detection Systems at All Airports After Deadly Jeju Air Crash

The government will implement thermal imaging cameras, radar systems, and new regulations to prevent bird strikes following the country's worst aviation disaster.

• The December 29 Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport killed 179 people, making it South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster.
• Preliminary investigations suggest bird strikes may have contributed to the crash, with feathers and bird DNA found in both engines.
• South Korea's Ministry of Land announced plans to install thermal imaging cameras and bird detection radar systems at all 15 domestic airports starting next year.
• Additional measures include mobile sonic devices to deter birds and relocating facilities that attract birds, such as food waste sites and orchards, away from airports.
• The crash investigation revealed that the plane's black boxes stopped recording four minutes before the disaster, complicating efforts to determine the exact cause.

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