Key Facts
• December 2024: Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash at Muan Airport killed 179 people.
• Investigation confirmed no attempt to deploy landing gear or flaps during landing.
• Right engine, damaged by bird strike, retained significant power output.
• Landing gear lever remained in “OFF” position; no manual override attempted.
• Flaps and speed brake levers also showed no signs of activation.
• Two possible reasons: lack of time due to emergency or deliberate decision.
• Pilot may have avoided deploying gear to reduce drag and maintain speed.
• Black box revealed left engine was mistakenly shut down instead of the damaged right engine.
• Left engine shutdown caused loss of power, hydraulics, and electrical systems.
• Right engine partially functioned, enabling flight for 4-5 km post-failure.
• Boeing 737-800 can operate safely with one functioning engine.
• Pilot error cited as a potential cause; training and fatigue management under review.
• Families criticized focus on pilot error, citing runway infrastructure issues.
• Korean pilots’ association condemned investigation as biased against pilots.
Summary
The interim investigation into the December 2024 Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash at Muan Airport, which claimed 179 lives, revealed that the pilots did not attempt to deploy the landing gear or flaps before the belly landing. The right engine, damaged by a bird strike, retained partial functionality, while the left engine was mistakenly shut down, leading to a loss of power and systems. Investigators are examining whether the pilots’ actions were due to emergency constraints or a deliberate decision to maintain speed. Families and pilot associations criticized the investigation for focusing on pilot error while ignoring systemic and infrastructure issues. The final report is pending.
