Jeju Air Crash: Investigating the Causes Behind the Tragedy

Seoul, Dec 29 (NationPress) A multitude of interpretations has surfaced concerning the cause of the tragic airliner crash in the southwestern region of Muan, South Korea, on Sunday. Initial investigations suggest that airframe failure resulting from a bird strike is the primary factor.

The exact cause remains ambiguous, yet some analysts are proposing alternative explanations, including technical failures. They argue that both the engines and brakes on either side of the aircraft must have malfunctioned for such a disaster to occur, indicating that a bird strike alone could not have led to simultaneous failures in all crucial components.

The Jeju Air passenger jet, which was transporting 181 individuals, was approaching Muan International Airport, situated 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul, at approximately 8:54 a.m., according to reports from the Yonhap news agency.

At 8:58 a.m., just one minute after the control tower issued a warning about a bird strike, the plane declared a mayday and attempted to land in the opposite direction of the runway at 9:00 a.m., as per the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Three minutes later, the aircraft collided with a fence wall without its landing gear deployed. The plane was unable to decelerate before reaching the end of the runway, resulting in the crash.

Aviation specialists largely concur that the failure of the landing gear was a direct contributor to the incident.

'Reviewing the video, it is evident that the landing gear did not extend, and the plane crashed with minimal speed loss,' stated Professor Choi Kee-young from Inha University. 'Typically, an aircraft is equipped with multiple brakes, and if the landing gear fails, reverse-thrust engines should lift the wing flaps to act as airbrakes. However, this mechanism appeared ineffective in this situation.'

Experts have pointed to the bird strike as the most likely reason for the landing gear malfunction, as it may have impacted both the engine and hydraulic system.

'If birds enter the engine, they can damage it and subsequently affect the hydraulic system linked to it,' explained Kim Kyu-wang, director of the Hanseo University Flight Education Center.

'The hydraulic system is responsible for raising and lowering the landing gear during takeoff and landing, and it might have sustained damage.'

Conversely, some contend that a single engine failure due to a bird strike is improbable to result in such a disastrous event.

They argue that even if one engine failed from the bird strike, the second engine should have been capable of powering the landing gear, hinting at potential additional systemic problems.

'In the event of a belly landing, an aircraft must generate increased drag using its wings, but this was not apparent in the footage,' Professor Choi noted.

'My hypothesis is that both engines malfunctioned,' he continued. 'If both engines fail, the entire aircraft descends, and the pilot's commands become ineffective.'

Experts have urged for a comprehensive investigation to ascertain whether the crash was a result of a bird strike, an airframe flaw, or inadequate maintenance.

'We must investigate the cause, but it is quite rare for all three landing gears to fail to deploy,' remarked Kim In-gyu, director of the Korea Aerospace University Flight Education Center.

'It is challenging to conclude that a bird strike alone was accountable. We also need to determine if the aircraft had any pre-existing defects.'