A Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air crashed on December 29th at Jeju International Airport in South Korea, resulting in the deaths of all 179 people on board. The flight had departed from Thailand's Chiang Mai International Airport with 173 Korean passengers, 2 Thai passengers, and 6 crew members on board.
The aircraft, which was 15 years old, had departed from Chiang Mai International Airport and was heading to Jeju International Airport. According to initial investigations, the probable cause of the accident was a bird strike that caused a right-hand engine to malfunction and catch fire. A video taken by a witness showed the aircraft's right-hand engine on fire as it was making its approach to the airport.
One passenger had reported to their family members via text message that a bird was stuck in the wing and the aircraft was unable to land safely. The Korean aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the accident and have suspended all flights operated by Jeju Air.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of low-cost carriers, with many experts questioning whether the aircraft was airworthy and whether the pilots had followed proper procedures in the event of an emergency. The accident has also highlighted the dangers of bird strikes, which can cause catastrophic damage to aircraft engines, leading to loss of power and even loss of life.
The South Korean government has announced that it will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and will take steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The incident has sent shockwaves around the world, with many aviation experts warning that it highlights the need for the aviation industry to take steps to improve safety and reduce the risk of bird strikes.