Bird Strike and Go-Around: What Happened Right Before Jeju Air Crash

A South Korean Jeju Air passenger jet, Flight 7C2216, crashed while trying to land at Muan International Airport on Sunday, killing 179 people. Only two crew members, who were sitting in the tail section, survived.

South Korea’s transport ministry and fire authorities issued a timeline of the last minutes leading up to the crash:

Timeline of Events for Flight 7C2216:

8:54 a.m. – Muan airport air traffic control clears the aircraft to land on runway 01.

8:57 a.m. – Air traffic control issues a “caution – bird activity”.

8:59 a.m. – The pilot reports a bird strike declares a “Mayday Mayday Mayday” emergency and announces “bird strike, bird strike, go-around”.

9:00 a.m. – Flight 7C2216 begins go-around and requests landing on runway 19, approaching the single runway from the other end of the airport.

9:01 a.m. – Air traffic control clears to land on runway 19.

9:02 a.m. – Flight 7C2216 touches down at the 1,200-meter mark of the 2,800-meter runway.

9:02:34 a.m. – Air traffic control sounds the “crash bell” for the airport fire rescue unit.

9:02:55 a.m. – The fire rescue team finishes deploying its equipment.

9:03 a.m. – Flight 7C2216 crashes into an embankment after overshooting the runway.

9:10 a.m. – Airport authorities send the accident report to the Ministry of Transport.

9:23 a.m. – The first male survivor is rescued and taken to a temporary medical facility.

9:38 a.m. – Muan airport is closed.

9:50 a.m. – Second survivor rescued from the plane’s tail section

Govt Response and Investigation:

South Korea’s acting President, Choi Sang-mok issued a directive for immediate inspection of the country’s airliner operation system after the occurrence of the incident. He called upon open transparency in the investigation process and gave emphasis on prompt updates with respect to the bereaved families.

The transport ministry is weighing a special inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft used by South Korean airlines. While many believe the bird strike caused the crash, experts have raised concerns about the plane’s speed and the apparent failure of the landing gear to deploy during the landing attempt.