Investigations on the Flight Accident Jeju Air 2216, which took place on December 29, 2023 in South Korea, revealed that the pilots turned off the wrong engine after the aircraft collided with birds. According to a source with direct access to the process, the crew would have deactivated the left engine, which was less damaged, rather than the right, more committed by the impact with the animals.
The information was released by Reuters agency on Monday (21), based on reports from a meeting between researchers and relatives of the victims. The wrong shutdown occurred during emergency maneuvers, moments before landing at Muan International Airport in the south of the country. The accident involved a Boeing 737-800 that came from Bangkok, Thailand, and resulted in 179 deaths. Only two people survived.
The data used by researchers include records of cabin recorders, aircraft computer systems and one of the engine’s physical switches, which was recovered from the wreckage in May. The South Korea Aeronautical and Railway Accidents Investigation (Araib), responsible for the investigation, has not yet disclosed the final report, but said it had consistent evidence that supports this conclusion.
A press conference with the official investigation update was scheduled for last Saturday, but was canceled after protests from the victims’ relatives. Relatives claimed that disclosure could blame exclusively to pilots, without considering other possible contributing factors, such as track conditions or airport infrastructure.
The Jeju Air pilots union also positioned itself against preliminary conclusions, accusing Araib of trying to turn the crew into “scapegoats.” According to the entity, there is no scientific proof that the aircraft would have managed to land safely even with the engine less damaged in operation. Unions and family members ask for a broader analysis of the circumstances surrounding the accident, the most serious ever recorded in South Korean soil.
