South Korean officials have launched an urgent investigation into the country’s deadliest plane crash in history, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 179 people on Sunday. The crash occurred shortly before the flight was due to land, and air traffic control had issued a bird strike warning, alerting the crew to the risk of collision with birds. Authorities are now working to determine whether a bird strike directly caused the crash or if other factors were involved.
What is a Bird Strike?
A bird strike refers to a collision between an aircraft and a bird during flight. These incidents can pose significant risks, especially when birds are sucked into the jet engines, causing power loss or even engine failure. Bird strikes are common occurrences, with over 19,600 wildlife strikes reported in the United States in 2023 alone, the majority of which involved birds. In the UK, over 1,400 bird strikes were recorded in 2022, with around 100 resulting in damage to planes, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
How Dangerous Are Bird Strikes?
While bird strikes are frequent, they rarely lead to fatal crashes. When a bird is sucked into an engine, pilots usually have time to manage the situation and execute an emergency landing. Pilots are particularly cautious during early morning or sunset hours when birds are most active. Aviation expert Professor Doug Drury noted that pilots are trained to be vigilant during these times.
Despite their rarity, bird strikes can occasionally result in deadly accidents. Between 1988 and 2023, the FAA reported that 76 people died in the US due to collisions between planes and wildlife. One notorious incident occurred in 1995, when 24 military personnel were killed in Alaska after a plane collided with a flock of geese. A bird strike also caused the “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009, when an Airbus struck a flock of geese, leading to a dramatic emergency landing in New York’s Hudson River. Fortunately, all 155 passengers and crew survived.
Did a Bird Strike Cause the South Korean Crash?
The cause of the South Korean plane crash remains under investigation, and it is still unclear whether a bird strike was directly responsible. A passenger on the flight reported to a relative that a bird had been “stuck in the wing,” which could have caused the plane’s inability to land. The head of the Muan fire department, Lee Jeong-hyun, suggested that both a bird strike and bad weather may have contributed to the crash, but the exact cause is still being examined.
Aviation expert Chris Kingswood, a pilot with over 40 years of experience, examined video footage of the incident. He noted that the plane was missing its landing gear and was not using its flaps correctly, indicating that the situation developed rapidly. According to Kingswood, the plane’s dual-engine failure could have been triggered by a bird strike, especially at low altitude. Pilots are trained to handle engine failure, but at lower altitudes, they must make quick decisions with limited time.
Other experts, however, have questioned whether a bird strike alone could have caused the crash. Geoffrey Thomas, editor of Airline News, argued that while bird strikes and issues with landing gear are common, they rarely result in catastrophic accidents on their own. Australian safety expert Geoffrey Dell also expressed skepticism, noting that a bird strike typically would not prevent landing gear from extending and that pilots would have had time to respond if only one engine had failed.
Conclusion
The investigation into the cause of the deadly plane crash in South Korea is ongoing. While bird strikes are a significant concern for aviation safety, it remains uncertain whether they were the sole factor in this tragedy. The outcome of the investigation will shed light on whether a bird strike played a critical role or if other factors, such as mechanical failure or bad weather, were involved. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the aviation industry in ensuring safety amidst common but potentially dangerous incidents like bird strikes.
