Investigators have uncovered evidence of a bird strike in the December crash of a Jeju Air passenger plane in South Korea that killed 179 people.
According to a preliminary investigation report released on Monday, feathers and blood stains found on both engines of the Boeing 737-800 were confirmed to belong to the Baikal teal, a species of migratory duck known to fly in large flocks.
The crash, which is the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil, has prompted authorities to focus their inquiry on the role of the bird strike and a concrete structure at the end of the runway that the plane collided with.
The report stated that the plane’s engines would undergo further examination, and the concrete structure—a navigation system component known as a localizer—would also be scrutinized.
The Jeju Air flight departed Bangkok on the morning of December 29 and was en route to Muan International Airport in South Korea’s southwest.
At 8:57 a.m. local time, three minutes after contacting the airport, the control tower warned the crew about bird activity in the area.
At 8:59 a.m., the pilot reported a bird strike and declared a mayday signal. Shortly after, the pilot requested permission to land from the opposite direction.
However, the aircraft belly-landed without deploying its landing gear, overran the runway, and crashed into the concrete structure, triggering an explosion.
Experts have questioned the presence of the concrete barriers along the runway, with some suggesting that the death toll could have been reduced if they had not been there.
The barriers, which house a localizer system that assists in aircraft landings, are also present at other South Korean airports and internationally.
Authorities had previously revealed that the plane’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders stopped recording approximately four minutes before the crash, complicating efforts to determine the exact sequence of events.
Following the crash, South Korea’s transport ministry announced plans to replace concrete barriers at seven airports across the country. Runway safety areas at these locations will also be updated to prevent similar tragedies.
The preliminary report has been shared with the United Nations’ aviation agency and the relevant authorities in the United States, France, and Thailand.
The investigation continues to determine the full scope of factors contributing to the catastrophic accident.
