Latest news with #JejuAir
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Filipino Times
Jeju Air jet still had working engine when it crashed, investigation says
A Jeju Air passenger jet that crashed in South Korea last December still had one functioning engine when it attempted an emergency landing, according to a preliminary update from South Korean investigators. The Boeing 737-800 crashed at Muan Airport after a bird strike damaged both engines. The aircraft landed without lowering its landing gear, overshot the runway, and slammed into an embankment, bursting into flames and killing 179 of the 181 people on board. An update dated July 19 from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) revealed that the aircraft's right engine, though damaged and emitting smoke, continued to generate enough thrust to keep the plane flying. Investigators also found that the crew had shut down the left engine, which sustained less damage, just 19 seconds after the bird strike. The five-page update, which included cockpit voice recordings, flight data, and photos of the damaged engines, did not explain why the flight crew chose to turn off the less-damaged engine. The final investigation report is expected in June 2026. The Jeju Air pilots' union said the left engine also showed signs of a surge and the presence of bird remains, calling the update 'misleading.' Families of the victims, who were briefed privately on the findings, have urged investigators not to release the report prematurely, warning that it risks placing blame on the pilots without full context. Both engines showed signs of internal damage, and previous findings confirmed duck feathers and blood were found inside. Engine manufacturer CFM International, a joint venture of GE and Safran, reported no mechanical defects unrelated to the bird strike or crash. Aviation experts say early reports are often incomplete and should not be used to draw conclusions. The crash has also raised questions about airport infrastructure, as the aircraft struck a concrete embankment containing navigation equipment. South Korea's transport ministry has since pledged to upgrade similar structures at seven domestic airports to meet international safety standards.
GMA Network
2 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
Jeju Air jet still had a working engine when it crashed, investigation update says
The wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft that went off the runway and crashed at Muan International Airport lies near a concrete structure it crashed into, in Muan, South Korea, December 30, 2024. REUTERS/ Kim Hong-Ji SEOUL - A Jeju Air plane that crashed in December during an emergency landing after a bird strike could have kept flying on the damaged engine that was still working after pilots shut down the other one, according to an update from South Korean investigators. The Boeing 737-800 instead belly-landed at Muan airport without its landing gear down, overshot the runway and erupted into a fireball after slamming into an embankment, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. Investigators have not yet produced a final report into the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil, but information about the plane's two engines has begun to emerge. According to a July 19 update prepared by investigators and seen by Reuters but not publicly released following complaints from victims' family members, the left engine sustained less damage than the right following a bird strike, but the left engine was shut down 19 seconds after the bird strike. The right engine experienced a "surge" and emitted flames and black smoke, but investigators said it "was confirmed to be generating output sufficient for flight," in the five-page update, which included post-crash photos of both engines. No reason for the crew's actions was given and the probe is expected to last months as investigators reconstruct the plane's technical state and the picture understood by its pilots. Experts say most air accidents are caused by multiple factors and caution against putting too much weight on incomplete evidence. More questions So far, public attention has focused on the possibility that the crew may have shut down the less-damaged engine, rekindling memories of a 1989 Boeing 737-400 crash in Kegworth, England, where pilots shut down a non-damaged engine by mistake. The disaster led to multiple changes in regulations including improvements in crew communication and emergency procedures. A source told Reuters on Monday that the South Korea-led probe had "clear evidence" that pilots had shut off the less-damaged left engine after the bird strike, citing the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a switch found in the wreckage. But the latest update on the crash also raises the possibility that even the more heavily damaged engine that was still running could have kept the plane aloft for longer. It did not say what level of performance the operating engine still had, nor what extra options that might have given to the plane's emergency-focused crew before the jet doubled back and landed in the opposite direction of the runway from its initial plan with its landing gear up. Both engines contained bird strike damage and both experienced engine vibrations after the strike. The right engine showed significant internal damage, the Korean-language update from South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) said, but it did not describe the damage found in the left engine. The update did not say how the left engine was operating nor the state of systems connected to either engine, said former US National Transportation Safety Board investigator Greg Feith when shown the document translated by Reuters. It contains some new facts but omits far more, resulting in a "cryptic" document, he said. ARAIB, which plans to issue a final report next June, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Safety experts say it is common for early reports to contain sparse facts and limited analysis while investigations continue. A preliminary report released in January said feathers and blood stains from ducks were found in both engines. The engines - made by CFM International, jointly owned by GE and France's Safran - were examined in May and no defects or fault data were found beyond the bird and crash damage, the report said. Families of those who died in the disaster were briefed on the engine findings but asked investigators not to release the July 19 report, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other factors. The report was withheld but Reuters and South Korean media obtained copies. Boeing and GE referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Safran did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jeju Air has previously said it is cooperating with ARAIB and is awaiting publication of the investigation. Under global aviation rules, civil air investigations aim to discover crash causes without assigning blame or liability. The Jeju Air pilots' union said ARAIB was "misleading the public" by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine given that bird remains were found in both. A source who attended the briefing told Reuters that investigators told family members the left engine also experienced a disruptive "surge," citing black box data. The pilot union and representatives of bereaved families have asked that evidence be released to support any findings. Relatives say the investigation also needs to focus on the embankment containing navigation equipment, which safety experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll. Global aviation standards call for any navigation equipment in line with runways to be installed on structures that easily give way in case of impact with an aircraft. South Korea's transport ministry has identified seven domestic airports, including Muan, with structures made of concrete or steel, rather than materials that break apart on impact and has said it will improve them. Designs for the new structures are in progress, a ministry official told Reuters last week. —Reuters
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Furore in South Korea after college art competition asks entrants to ‘depict pilot's face before crash'
SEOUL: A South Korean university on July 26 was embroiled in controversy over its recent art competition for high school students, in which one of the topics asked candidates to 'depict the face of a pilot just before a crash'. The University of Suwon held the competition on July 19 to 20, with participating students asked to choose one of two topics for their art piece. This included the crashing pilot, which was chosen by 39 participants. The subject sparked uproar, as it reminded many of the public of the Dec 29 crash of a Jeju Air flight that killed 179 of the 181 people onboard. The topic even specified that the pilot is 'a man in his 40s'. The pilot in the Muan disaster was aged 45 when he and all but two people onboard died in the crash. 'We believe that there was a management issue when selecting the topic for the competition. We sincerely apologise for touching off this debate,' the university officials told media. The bereaved families of the crash victims and a group of the aircraft pilots reacted angrily to the news. In an official statement July 26, the victims' family group said the art competition 'defamed' the pilot and the victims. It urged an official apology and thorough investigation by the university on who is responsible. In a separate statement issued on July 26, the Korean Pilot Unions Alliance also urged an apology to the bereaved families and said it was mulling legal action against the university. The crash is currently under investigation in a government-led probe, with the initial findings suggesting that pilot may have mistakenly switched off the wrong engine after a bird flew into one of the jets. Bereaved families and the local pilots' group accused the government of unfairly blaming the pilot when the investigation was not even final yet. The conclusion of the ongoing investigation is expected in June 2026. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Business Times
2 days ago
- General
- Business Times
Jeju Air jet still had a working engine when it crashed, investigation update says
[SEOUL] A Jeju Air plane that crashed in December during an emergency landing after a bird strike could have kept flying on the damaged engine that was still working after pilots shut down the other one, according to an update from South Korean investigators. The Boeing 737-800 instead belly-landed at Muan airport without its landing gear down, overshot the runway and erupted into a fireball after slamming into an embankment, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. Investigators have not yet produced a final report into the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil, but information about the plane's two engines has begun to emerge. According to a July 19 update prepared by investigators and seen by Reuters but not publicly released following complaints from victims' family members, the left engine sustained less damage than the right following a bird strike, but the left engine was shut down 19 seconds after the bird strike. The right engine experienced a 'surge' and emitted flames and black smoke, but investigators said it 'was confirmed to be generating output sufficient for flight,' in the five-page update, which included post-crash photos of both engines. No reason for the crew's actions was given and the probe is expected to last months as investigators reconstruct the plane's technical state and the picture understood by its pilots. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Experts say most air accidents are caused by multiple factors and caution against putting too much weight on incomplete evidence. More questions So far, public attention has focused on the possibility that the crew may have shut down the less-damaged engine, rekindling memories of a 1989 Boeing 737-400 crash in Kegworth, England, where pilots shut down a non-damaged engine by mistake. The disaster led to multiple changes in regulations including improvements in crew communication and emergency procedures. A source told Reuters on Monday that the South Korea-led probe had 'clear evidence' that pilots had shut off the less-damaged left engine after the bird strike, citing the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a switch found in the wreckage. But the latest update on the crash also raises the possibility that even the more heavily damaged engine that was still running could have kept the plane aloft for longer. It did not say what level of performance the operating engine still had, nor what extra options that might have given to the plane's emergency-focused crew before the jet doubled back and landed in the opposite direction of the runway from its initial plan with its landing gear up. Both engines contained bird strike damage and both experienced engine vibrations after the strike. The right engine showed significant internal damage, the Korean-language update from South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) said, but it did not describe the damage found in the left engine. The update did not say how the left engine was operating nor the state of systems connected to either engine, said former US National Transportation Safety Board investigator Greg Feith when shown the document translated by Reuters. It contains some new facts but omits far more, resulting in a 'cryptic' document, he said. ARAIB, which plans to issue a final report next June, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Safety experts say it is common for early reports to contain sparse facts and limited analysis while investigations continue. A preliminary report released in January said feathers and blood stains from ducks were found in both engines. The engines - made by CFM International, jointly owned by GE and France's Safran - were examined in May and no defects or fault data were found beyond the bird and crash damage, the report said. Families of those who died in the disaster were briefed on the engine findings but asked investigators not to release the July 19 report, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other factors. The report was withheld but Reuters and South Korean media obtained copies. Boeing and GE referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Safran did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jeju Air has previously said it is cooperating with ARAIB and is awaiting publication of the investigation. Under global aviation rules, civil air investigations aim to discover crash causes without assigning blame or liability. The Jeju Air pilots' union said ARAIB was 'misleading the public' by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine given that bird remains were found in both. A source who attended the briefing told Reuters that investigators told family members the left engine also experienced a disruptive 'surge', citing black box data. The pilot union and representatives of bereaved families have asked that evidence be released to support any findings. Relatives say the investigation also needs to focus on the embankment containing navigation equipment, which safety experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll. Global aviation standards call for any navigation equipment in line with runways to be installed on structures that easily give way in case of impact with an aircraft. South Korea's transport ministry has identified seven domestic airports, including Muan, with structures made of concrete or steel, rather than materials that break apart on impact and has said it will improve them. Designs for the new structures are in progress, a ministry official told Reuters last week. AFP
Reuters
2 days ago
- General
- Reuters
South Korea air crash: Inside the final minutes of Jeju Air flight
July 27 (Reuters) - South Korea is investigating the crash of a Jeju Air ( opens new tab Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 737-800 jet on December 29 at Muan International Airport that killed 179 people, in the deadliest air disaster on the country's soil. The following are the final minutes of Flight 7C2216 gathered from a preliminary investigation report in January, South Korea's transport ministry and fire authorities, and a July 19 update from investigators seen by Reuters. All times are Korea Standard Time (GMT+9). 8:54:43 a.m. - Jeju Air 7C2216 contacts Muan airport air traffic control as it makes the final approach and is given clearance to land on runway 01, which is orientated at 10 degrees north-east. 8:57:50 a.m. - Air traffic control gives "caution - bird activity" advisory. 8:58:11 a.m. - Jeju Air pilots are heard talking about spotting a flock of birds under the aircraft. 8:58:26 a.m. - The aircraft aborts the landing attempt and then strikes birds while starting to circle back for another landing attempt known as a go-around. Both engines continued to operate with vibrations. The right engine also experienced a surge, emitting large flames and thick black smoke. 8:58:45 a.m. - Pilots stop the left engine while performing emergency procedures. The July 19 update said the evidence for this came from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), flight data recorder (FDR) and inspection of the engines. 8:58:50 a.m. - The aircraft's FDR and CVR stop recording. At the moment both "black boxes" stop recording, the aircraft is flying at the speed of 161 knots (298 kph or 185 mph) at an altitude of 498 ft (152 m). 8:58:56 a.m. - Flight 7C2216 pilot makes emergency Mayday declaration related to a bird strike during the go-around. 9:00 a.m. - During the go-around, Flight 7C2216 requests clearance to land on runway 19, which is by approach from the opposite end of the airport's single runway. 9:01 a.m. - Air traffic control authorises landing on runway 19. 9:02 a.m. - Flight 7C2216 makes contact with runway at about the 1,200 m (3,937 ft) point of the 2,800 m (9,186 ft) runway. Landing gear was not lowered and the plane lands on its belly. 9:02:34 a.m. - Air traffic control alerts "crash bell" at airport fire rescue unit. 9:02:55 a.m. - Airport fire rescue unit completes deploying fire rescue equipment. 9:02:57 a.m. - Flight 7C2216 crashes into embankment after over-shooting the runway. 9:10 a.m. - The Transport Ministry receives an accident report from airport authorities. 9:23 a.m. - One male rescued and transported to a temporary medical facility. 9:38 a.m. - Muan airport is closed. 9:50 a.m. - Rescue completed of a second person from inside tail section of the plane.
