According to a report by South Korea's JoongAng Daily, cited by China News Service, the crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216 on Dec. 29, 2024, at Muan International Airport may have been caused by a critical mistake made by the pilot.
At a briefing for the victims' families, the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) investigation committee disclosed that the pilot mistakenly shut down the functioning left engine, instead of the severely damaged right engine, which had been hit by birds during the plane's descent. This error caused the fully operational left engine to lose power completely, rendering the landing gear inoperative as well.
Earlier reports suggested that both engines were damaged by bird strikes, forcing the aircraft into an emergency landing. However, the latest findings indicate that the accident could largely be attributed to pilot negligence if the shutdown of the wrong engine is confirmed.
The aviation industry in South Korea has drawn comparisons between this accident and a similar crash in India that killed 274 people.
The report also emphasized that this is not the final conclusion of the crash investigation. However, the significant departure from initial reports is expected to provoke widespread controversy and debate.
The tragic accident occurred at approximately 9:07 a.m. local time on Dec. 29, 2024. Jeju Air flight 7C2216 had departed from Bangkok, Thailand, and was attempting to land at Muan Airport in South Jeolla Province when it crashed. Of the 175 passengers and six crew members onboard, only two flight attendants survived. The remaining 179 people lost their lives.
On Jan. 4, 2025, South Korean authorities completed the identification and organization of the remains of the victims.
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Deadly plane crash at Muan Airport: Jeju Air flight tragedy analysis
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