Breaking! South Korea Jeju Air plane crash claims 167 lives. A look at recent aviation tragedies

 

South Korea Jeju Air plane crash claims 167 lives. A look at recent aviation tragedies

As 2024 draws to a close, the aviation industry faces a grim reality with multiple tragic crashes, including the devastating Jeju Air disaster in South Korea. This summary explores the details of these incidents, their causes, and the ongoing concerns regarding passenger safety in air travel.

TOPSHOT - fire and smoke rise from the tail section of a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft after the plane crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, some 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul on December 29, 2024. A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people from Bangkok to South Korea crashed on arrival on December 29, authorities told AFP, with 29 confirmed dead and dramatic video showing the aircraft bursting into flames. (Photo by YONHAP / AFP) / 

Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800, was involved in a tragic accident at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on December 29. The aircraft overran the runway and collided with a ground obstacle, causing it to disintegrate and burst into flames.

According to the local media report, Korean authorities confirmed that 167 were killed. Preliminary investigations suggest the aircraft landed gear-up without the flaps deployed, which may have contributed to the accident, as reported by AFP.

On Wednesday, 25 December 2024, Flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to the Chechen capital Grozny, crash-landed on Wednesday near Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from southern Russia, where Ukrainian drones were reported to be attacking several cities. At least 38 people were killed. Flightradar24 data indicated fluctuating altitude and speed readings before the crash.

A drone view shows emergency specialists working at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan December 25, 2024. REUTERS

At that time, Ukrainian military drones were reported to be carrying out attacks in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz. Rosaviatsiya states that the airspace was closed as a result, without stating the closure timeframe in relation to flight 8243. In addition, according to Rosaviatsiya, there was 'dense fog' in the area of Grozny Airport, according to a report by Aviation Safety Network.

On 22 December 2024, a Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islander, operated by North Coast Aviation, collided with wooded terrain in the Sapmanga Valley, approximately 32 nautical miles northeast of Nadzab, Papua New Guinea. The crash resulted in five fatalities, according to a report by Aviation Safety Network.

An Emerald Airlines UK ATR 72-600, identified by the callsign EAG71P, experienced a nose landing gear collapse during its landing on runway 04 at Belfast Airport. Additional images show significant damage to the landing gear and the front of the aircraft. Fortunately, there were no fatalities reported.

On 25 October 2024, While landing at a local airstrip after an agricultural spraying flight, a plane struck a tuk-tuk carrying 15 people. The collision resulted in the tragic deaths of 4 tuk-tuk occupants, while 8 others sustained injuries. The 3 crew members, consisting of Ukrainian and Sudanese nationals, were unharmed. The aircraft, however, sustained significant damage to its right wing and propeller, said the report.

A Malawi Air Force Dornier 228-202K crashed into the side of a mountain in poor weather conditions, resulting in the deaths of all nine people on board. The aircraft first collided with the trunk of a tree, impacting the outer part of its right-wing at approximately 4.5 meters above the ground. The plane's lower fuselage then struck the ground, causing the aircraft to break up. The main wreckage was found about 80 meters from the tree, on a slope.

How common are the bird strikes?

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), approximately 90% of bird strikes occur near airports, typically during aircraft takeoff or landing, or at lower altitudes where bird activity is most prevalent. Bird strikes can be particularly hazardous for smaller aircraft, especially single-engine planes, where such incidents have the potential to be fatal. Since 1988, there have been 262 reported bird strike fatalities worldwide, along with 250 aircraft destroyed due to these incidents.

Meanwhile, an Air Canada flight arriving from St. John’s International Airport was forced to make an emergency landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Saturday night after experiencing a malfunction with its landing gear. No casualties reported as they were evacuated within minutes and checked by paramedics. 

CNN has reported that 176 people have died in the Jeju crash!