South Korean aviation officials have concluded that pilot error played a decisive role in the Jeju Air crash that killed 179 people last December, according to preliminary findings reported by The Times UK. The investigation, however, has triggered outrage among grieving families, who accuse the authorities of prematurely blaming the flight crew and obscuring crucial details that could affect compensation and public understanding of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster.
The Boeing 737, on a flight from Bangkok to Muan, crashed on December 29, 2024, after both of its engines ingested birds — reportedly Baikal teal ducks — during final approach to the coastal Muan International Airport. According to investigators, the pilots mistakenly shut down the functioning engine rather than the one critically damaged by the bird strike, leading to catastrophic failure.
A Chain of Errors
Officials told reporters and families that no mechanical fault was found in the aircraft itself. Instead, a series of missteps by the crew ultimately caused the crash. After the bird strike, the pilots allegedly disabled the left engine — which was still operational — instead of the severely damaged right engine. The error led to a loss of power, which also cut power to the aircraft’s flight data recorders, leaving investigators without the last four minutes of crucial flight data.
Compounding the error, investigators say the pilots violated standard emergency protocols by attempting an unconventional landing on the same runway from the opposite direction, without lowering the landing gear. The aircraft came in too fast, skidded off the runway, and exploded upon colliding with a concrete embankment. Only two crew members, seated in the rear, survived.
“The pilot should have turned off the right engine, which was severely damaged by the bird strike, but he turned off the left engine, which was spinning, and the black box and power went out,” one official told South Korea’s MBN news.
Families in Uproar
The findings have enraged families of the victims. A press conference on Saturday descended into chaos when bereaved relatives stormed the room, shouting that officials were trying to scapegoat the pilots without sufficient evidence. Officials quickly withdrew printed copies of the interim report from journalists, stating the document had not been officially released.
“They’ve just blamed it all on the pilots,” one grieving father shouted.
Kim Yu-jin, head of the victims’ family group, criticised the handling of the release. “When investigators take a position, it should be accompanied by documents that support their position and convince the bereaved family that their conclusions are inevitable,” she said. “We were only given their conclusions.”
She also warned that how the findings are presented could directly affect financial compensation. “We have repeatedly asked them to be careful about these disclosures,” Kim added. “The way the investigation is communicated can have an impact on the compensation that families receive.”
A Difficult Year for South Korea
The crash marked a grim close to what South Korean media dubbed an annus horribilis for national aviation and public safety. It has reignited scrutiny over training standards for pilots and raised questions about Jeju Air’s crisis response protocols.
Photos from the scene published by The Times UK and South Korean outlets showed wreckage strewn across the runway and the concrete barrier where the plane finally came to rest. The blackened fuselage and torn engines have become symbols of a tragedy that many feel could have been avoided.
The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been sent to the United States for further analysis, although officials caution that the missing data from the final minutes may make it impossible to fully reconstruct the pilots’ actions.
A Search for Accountability
Public debate continues over who should ultimately bear responsibility. While initial findings point to pilot error, aviation experts argue that the design of the Boeing 737 cockpit systems, real-time air traffic control decisions, and Jeju Air’s emergency procedures must also be examined.
Some family members are pushing for an independent review panel and are calling on the South Korean government to involve international aviation bodies in the final investigation stages.
“We are not here to shield the pilots from accountability,” said one family representative. “But we are here to demand fairness, transparency, and dignity for our loved ones — not a rushed conclusion.”
