South Korea Plane Crash Cause: What Happened to Jeju Air Flight 2216?

On December 29, 2024, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in South Korean history occurred when Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, flying from Bangkok, Thailand, to South Korea, ended in a catastrophic overrun and collision that claimed 179 of the 181 lives on board — including passengers and crew. Only two cabin crew members survived with injuries.

The Crash Sequence

According to official reports and global media coverage, the flight crew issued a mayday alert after receiving a warning of a bird strike during their initial approach. Both engines reportedly ingested birds, severely compromising thrust. On the second landing attempt, the aircraft’s landing gear failed to deploy, forcing the jet into an emergency belly landing. The plane overran the runway and collided with a concrete structure at high speed, leading to a massive fireball.

South Korea Plane Crash Cause: Multiple Factors Under Investigation

Authorities have identified several possible contributing factors, but the investigation into the exact cause of the Jeju Air crash continues, with preliminary reports revealing a complex picture:

• Bird Strike

Investigators found evidence of bird remains in the engines, indicating that both engines were compromised by bird ingestion earlier in the flight. This likely degraded thrust and contributed to loss of control during landing.(wikipedia)

• Landing Gear Malfunction

The aircraft attempted to land without the landing gear deployed. Whether this was due to mechanical failure, electrical issues, or pilot decision remains under scrutiny.(cgtn news)

• Pilot Error (Interim Findings)

An interim report from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) suggested that the pilots may have shut down the wrong engine after the bird strike — inadvertently turning off the still-functioning engine instead of the one damaged, eliminating remaining power at a critical moment. This assessment, however, was met with strong objections from families and aviation professionals because the press briefing was canceled amid protests. (the chosun daily)

• Other Technical and Environmental Factors

Aviation analysts have also pointed to runway conditions and the presence of nearby concrete structures that may have worsened the crash’s impact. The combination of high landing speed, absence of landing gear braking systems, and collision with fixed airport infrastructure greatly increased the severity of the disaster.(cgtn news)

Controversy and Ongoing Investigation

Nearly a year after the tragedy, the cause remains unresolved in the eyes of many. Families of the victims have called for a fully independent investigative body, arguing that the current system, which places the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, lacks true autonomy and public trust. A bill to create an independent agency has passed preliminary parliamentary procedures but is still pending final approval. Families believe that only a truly independent investigation can deliver credible answers.(the donga ilbo)

Jeju Air and aviation authorities continue to cooperate with international experts to analyze black box data and mechanical findings. However, analysis is complex because some flight data recorder components were damaged or stopped recording just before the final descent.

Impact on South Korea’s Aviation Sector

The Jeju Air crash is widely regarded as South Korea’s worst plane crash in decades, shattering what had been a strong national safety record for commercial flights. The tragedy has reignited debate about aviation safety protocols, aircraft maintenance schedules, runway safety measures, and emergency response procedures.

While the final, definitive cause will likely be released only after exhaustive investigation, current evidence points to a complex cascade of mechanical, environmental, and possibly human factors rather than a single simple error.