The fatal crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in South Korea
caused by a bird strike, has raised concerns about the risks posed to commercial airliners. However, experts like Geoffrey Thomas suggest that the crash was likely due to cascading failures, including an electrical failure that caused the aircraft to stop transmitting location data and prevented the deployment of landing flaps and gear.
Impact of bird strikes on commercial aviation
While bird strikes are common in commercial aviation, they usually result in minor damage, costing the industry around $1.5 billion annually. The growth of air travel and quieter planes have made bird strikes more prevalent, with data showing that in most cases, the aircraft remains unaffected.
- Bird strikes implicated in serious accidents
- Experts’ views on bird strikes and crash factors
- Recommended safety precautions
Despite this, bird strikes have been implicated in serious accidents like the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash and the 2009 US Airways Flight 1549 emergency landing on the Hudson River. Aviation experts like Doug Drury suggest that a bird strike alone should not lead to a fatal crash and question why the pilots of Jeju Air Flight 2216 did not follow standard emergency landing procedures. Safety precautions such as loudspeakers that mimic the sounds of shotguns, which can scare flocks of birds, were recommended at Muan International Airport but were delayed due to construction works.
Response and future actions
In response to the crash, South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered an emergency safety inspection of the country’s entire airline industry to prevent further accidents. Overall, the crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 underscores the need for improved safety measures and protocols to mitigate the risks posed by bird strikes in commercial aviation.
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