South Korean authorities have launched an emergency safety investigation following the country’s worst-ever plane crash, which claimed 179 lives on Sunday. The tragedy occurred as the plane approached landing, with air traffic control issuing a bird strike warning moments before the incident.
A bird strike is a collision between an aircraft and a bird in flight, posing risks to planes, particularly jet engines, which can lose power if birds are ingested. Bird strikes are relatively common, with over 19,600 wildlife strikes reported in the US in 2023 and more than 1,400 in the UK in 2022. However, fatal crashes resulting from such incidents are rare.
Authorities are examining whether a bird strike contributed to the crash or if other factors, such as mechanical failure or weather conditions, played a role. A passenger reportedly told relatives that a bird was "stuck in the wing," preventing the plane from landing.
Chief of the Muan Fire Department, Lee Jeong-hyun, suggested a combination of bad weather and a bird strike may have caused the accident, though the exact cause remains unclear. Aviation expert Chris Kingswood noted that video footage does not definitively explain the crash. Observations suggest the plane lost engine power, as it lacked both landing gear and proper flap use, indicating the crew may have had to respond to a sudden emergency.
Experts remain skeptical about a bird strike being the sole cause. Aviation safety specialist Geoffrey Thomas noted that while bird strikes are common, they rarely result in the loss of an airplane. Australian safety expert Geoffrey Dell emphasized that bird strikes typically do not prevent landing gear deployment or cause immediate dual engine failure.
The crash has drawn comparisons to past incidents involving bird strikes, including the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson,” where all 155 onboard survived after an Airbus plane landed on New York’s Hudson River following a collision with geese.
South Korean officials are continuing their investigation to uncover the exact sequence of events leading to this devastating crash.