South Korea to Release Preliminary Report of Jeju Air Crash by Monday

Tragic Incident and Upcoming Report

The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced on Saturday, January 25, 2025, that they will release a preliminary report on the Jeju Air plane crash by Monday, January 27th. The crash, which occurred on December 29th, 2024, tragically resulted in the deaths of 179 people, making it the deadliest air disaster in South Korean history.

Key Areas of Investigation

The report is expected to shed light on the initial findings of the ongoing investigation into the crash. Key areas of focus include:

Bird Strike: Preliminary evidence suggests a potential bird strike may have played a significant role in the incident. Duck feathers and blood were found in both of the plane’s engines, and the pilots reported a bird strike before declaring a mayday.
Concrete Embankment: The role of a concrete embankment, which supported navigation antennas, is under scrutiny. Experts believe this structure may have exacerbated the impact of the crash.
Flight Data and Cockpit Voice Recordings: Investigators are analyzing flight data and cockpit voice recordings to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash. However, the recordings stopped four minutes and seven seconds before the impact, limiting the available information.
Airport Safety: The incident has raised questions about airport safety standards, particularly regarding the design and placement of navigational aids.

Sharing of Information

The preliminary report will be shared with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as well as aviation authorities in the United States, France, and Thailand. This information will be crucial for further investigation and potential safety recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Next Steps

It is important to note that this is a preliminary report, and the final investigation may take several months to complete. The release of this report will provide a crucial step towards understanding the factors that contributed to this devastating accident.