South Korea crash: Why birds pose a “huge danger” to planes during takeoff and landing ?

On December 29, 2024, in South Korea, the crash and fire of a plane carrying 181 people left several dozen dead. An investigation has been opened to determine the exact cause of the tragedy. This incident could be due to a collision with birds.

An investigation has been opened in South Korea to determine the circumstances of the accident that occurred this Sunday, December 29, when a Jeju Air plane, coming from Bangkok (Thailand) and heading for Muan, crashed during its landing.

Among Of the 181 passengers on board, at least 151 died, and two survived.

Adverse weather conditions

Initial information from Muan firefighters, cited by BFMTV, suggests that the accident could be linked to a collision with birds, combined with unfavorable weather conditions.

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According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the airport control tower issued an alert at 8:57 a.m. (local time) regarding a risk of collision with birds. A minute later, the plane reported distress and attempted a first landing before crashing at 9:03 a.m.

Birds represent “an enormous danger for planes”, as Jean Serrat, an aeronautics consultant for BFMTV, explains. This is what is known as the “bird hazard” and it is not new to airlines.

At high speeds, birds can penetrate engines, cause explosions or damage vital aircraft systems.

“There are flocks with hundreds of birds that can fly away at once, one next to the other”, says the specialist.

Acoustic devices to keep birds away

To reduce this risk, airports must assess and manage animal hazards around the runways. Acoustic devices and noise-emitting vehicle patrols are used to keep birds away. If necessary, short- and long-range rockets are also used to scare away birds.

According to the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, the risk is highest during takeoff or landing, when birds are on the runway.

Despite these measures, collisions can still occur at altitude, beyond the perimeter covered by airport services. To counter this threat, aircraft manufacturers are designing bird-strike resistant fuselages and engines that can shut down quickly if a bird is ingested.

The investigation is underway to determine the exact role of the bird strike in the tragedy.