US sends team of air accident investigators to probe cause of South Korea plane crash

The United States is sending air accident investigators to South Korea after a Jeju Air plane crashed while landing at Muan International Airport, killing all but two people on board. The team of investigators includes officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing, which manufactured the 17-year-old aircraft.

“The NTSB is leading a team of U.S. investigators (NTSB, Boeing and FAA) to assist the Republic of Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) with their investigation of the Dec. 29 Jeju Air accident at Muan International Airport in Muan, Republic of Korea,” NTSB wrote in a post on X, formally known as Twitter. The plane was coming from Thailand when it skidded off the runway and hit the airport wall at 9 am (local time).

Air safety experts around the world are now questioning why the plane was not able to lower its undercarriage after being hit by an apparent bird strike. After a long-drawn rescue and recovery operations, South Korean officials confirmed the death of 179 out of 181 people onboard. Two people who survived the devastating incident were both crew members who were rescued from the back of the plane during the initial search, Yonhap reported.

The bird strike became the main culprit

While addressing a press briefing on Sunday, South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated that the control tower at the airport had warned of birds in the area just moments before the plane landed. The ministry mentioned that the pilot sent out a “mayday” signal and made one attempt to land at the airport. On the second attempt, the plane landed on its belly, and skidded before hitting a barrier and and going up in flames.

“It is presumed to have been a bird strike. Smoke came out of one of the engines and then it exploded,” a surviving crew member said in a witness report, Yonhap reported. US President Joe Biden is currently on vacation in St Croix in the Virgin Islands extended condolences to the victims of the incident.

“Jill and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life that occurred as a result of the Jeju Airlines accident in Muan, Republic of Korea,” the US president said in a statement. “As close allies, the American people share deep bonds of friendship with the South Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy. The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance," he added.

Jeju Air flight 2216 had 181 people onboard, including 175 passengers, four flight attendants and two pilots.

With inputs from agencies.