How Bird Strikes Can Bring Down Planes: A Look at the Growing Threat

Each year, thousands of bird strikes are reported worldwide, posing a persistent danger to flight safety. While most of these incidents result in no harm to passengers, the potential for disaster is always present. Even a small bird can cause significant damage to an aircraft’s engine or other critical components.

BY PC Bureau

The deadly lane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday ( December 29) has once underlined the danger bird hits pose to flights safety.

Bird strikes are a well-known risk in aviation, particularly during takeoff and landing when aircraft are flying at lower altitudes. While many bird strikes are harmless, some can lead to significant damage to the aircraft, as was the case with this incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other aviation authorities around the world have taken steps to mitigate the risks posed by bird strikes, including the installation of bird radar systems at airports and regular bird control measures.

However, bird strikes continue to be a significant concern for the aviation industry. According to the FAA, there were over 14,000 reported bird strikes in the United States in 2020 alone. While the vast majority of these strikes do not result in accidents, incidents like the one at Muan International Airport highlight the potential dangers.

In the present case, the aircraft, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, was returning from Bangkok, Thailand, when it encountered a devastating series of events that led to its fiery crash. Early investigations suggest that a bird strike may have played a significant role in the disaster, causing a landing gear malfunction that ultimately led to the crash. This tragic incident has raised critical questions about aviation safety and the risks associated with bird strikes.

Bird Strike Suspected as Cause

Initial reports from Yonhap News Agency and airport authorities have pointed to a possible bird strike as the cause of the aircraft’s landing gear malfunction. A bird strike occurs when birds collide with an aircraft, often damaging the engine or other vital parts of the plane. In this case, it is believed that the bird collision resulted in a malfunction of the plane’s landing gear, which failed to deploy properly during the approach.

Hawker 4000 bird strike on engine during take off view from cockpit ✈️

📸 Isi Attie pic.twitter.com/YeLymblqaz

— Aviation (@webflite) September 13, 2022

According to the head of the Muan Fire Department, Lee Jeong-hyun, the possibility of a bird strike or bad weather conditions was under investigation, but preliminary findings indicated that the bird strike was a likely cause. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the plane’s tires remain inactive as it approached the runway, signaling a failure in the landing gear system. Some experts speculated that the aircraft’s landing gear could have been damaged or not deployed at all, possibly due to the bird strike.

The failure of the landing gear, coupled with the plane’s inability to slow down effectively, led to the disastrous belly landing, and the aircraft continued to skid across the runway until it collided with a fence and exploded in flames.

Aviation Experts Weigh In: The Mystery of the Crash

This is a Dassault Falcon 2000 undergoing a birdstrike while attempting to land. Despite the pilots trying to avoid it, it was too late

📹: jetluxe.hg pic.twitter.com/86L2dnB2zw

— Aviation (@webflite) March 22, 2024

The crash at Muan International Airport remains under investigation, with aviation safety experts and authorities working together to determine the exact cause of the incident. In addition to examining the bird strike theory, the investigation will likely explore other factors such as the aircraft’s maintenance history, the response of the flight crew, and any potential issues with airport infrastructure.

Conclusion

The deadly plane crash at Muan International Airport is a tragic reminder of the unexpected risks that can arise in aviation, even in ideal conditions. While the investigation continues, it serves as a crucial moment for the aviation industry to reassess its safety protocols and ensure that such a disaster never happens again. The lives lost in this incident, coupled with the survivors’ traumatic experiences, underline The the need for constant vigilance and the ongoing pursuit of safety in the skies.

Major Aviation Crashes Involving Bird Strikes