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South Korea’s preliminary investigation into the tragic Jeju Air Boeing 737‑800 crash on December 29, 2024, has sparked fierce backlash after victims’ families and the pilots’ union rejected its focus on pilot error as the primary cause.
The probe, led by the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), has found “clear evidence” that the flight crew shut down the less‑damaged left engine following a bird strike, when the right engine bore the brunt of the damage, resulting in total engine failure moments before an emergency landing at Muan Airport.
According to sources briefed by Reuters, cockpit voice recordings, flight data, and the physical engine switch recovered from the wreckage all indicate the crew mistakenly halved the power supply by turning off the serviceable engine. Previously, bird remains (likely from ducks) had been discovered in both engines; but the report clarifies that the right engine sustained more serious damage.
Shortly after the shutdown, the aircraft overshot the runway, collided with a concrete embankment containing airport navigational aids, caught fire, and tragically claimed the lives of 179 of the 181 people aboard, making it South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster.
Families and Pilots’ Union Push Back
At a briefing with bereaved families, the ARAIB attempted to release findings, but the update was abruptly pulled amid strong resistance. Families, supported by the pilots’ union, claim the preliminary report unfairly targets the pilots and “scapegoats” them without considering other contributing factors, including runway infrastructure, embankment design, and potential mechanical failures not tied to crew actions.
In particular, they highlight that the wreckage collided with an embankment containing navigational equipment, which escalated the severity of the crash and may have obstructed a controlled landing, elements they argue were unduly omitted from the interim analysis.
The pilots’ union also points out that both engines contained bird remains, challenging the notion that only one was damaged. They argue that the ARAIB’s apparent dismissal of the left engine’s bird strike damage is misleading, and that the investigators have yet to present definitive “scientific and technological grounds” proving the aircraft could have landed safely on one engine.
Investigation Ongoing, Final Report Pending
The ARAIB expects to complete its definitive report within a year of the crash, a timeline aligned with international standards for such complex aviation investigations. Currently, Jeju Air, along with CFM International (co-manufacturer of the aircraft’s engines), is fully cooperating with authorities.
International aviation authorities, including the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—have reportedly supported the probe and emphasized that air accidents typically result from multiple interlinked factors, such as aircraft condition, crew training, airport infrastructure, and external hazards like wildlife strikes.
Civil aviation experts suggest this incident could prompt reassessments of cockpit resource management training, engine identification protocols under stress, and runway safety enhancements, especially related to embankment design and wildlife risk mitigation.
What Comes Next?
The ARAIB is expected to finalize and publicly release its final findings ahead of the December 29, 2025, anniversary of the crash.
Victim families and unions will press for structural reviews of Muan Airport’s runway layout and emergency response procedures.
Jeju Air may face scrutiny regarding its crew training, pre-flight wildlife hazard planning, and runway safety compliance.
Broader aviation regulators could consider mandating enhanced cockpit instrumentation, clearer engine labeling, and improved engine shutdown protocols.
Sources:
BBC | Reuters
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