Investigators have released a report that casts further light on the Jeju Air disaster that claimed the lives of 181 people on board, with only two people surviving the crash last month
Officials investigating the horrifying Jeju Air disaster last month have made a bombshell DNA discovery during an inspection of the crashed plane’s remains.
The preliminary report released by South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board today revealed that bird DNA and blood stains were found in both the plane’s engines. According to the report: “The samples were sent to specialised organisations for DNA analysis, and a domestic organisation identified them as belonging to Baikal teals.”
Baikal teals are a species of migratory duck. The report also referenced two black boxes that were recovered and stated they stopped recording about four minutes before the deadly impact.
The missing four minutes could represent a hurdle for investigators wanting to bring closure to the victims’ families as it complicates finding out the cause of the crash. Last month’s air disaster was the deadliest in modern South Korean history and resulted in the deaths of 181 people on board.
Only two people survived the crash and were seated a the back of the plane. The front of the Boeing 737-800 plane smashed into a wall after it skidded down the runway at Muan International airport on December 29.
Its landing gear failed to deploy resulting in the plane hitting the concrete and subsequently bursting into flames. The flight had set off from Bangkok, Tailand, and all but two of the victims were returning to South Korea.
Analysts have since said the concrete wall should have been made of lighter materials so it could break with ease upon impact, the Associated Press reported. The South Korean Transport Ministry has said it will remove the wall at the airport.
Air traffic controllers previously told the pilot about the potential for bird strikes two minutes before a distress signal was made. Minutes later the pilot made the attempted emergency landing.
Today’s preliminary report said pilots noticed groups of birds as they made their approach at Muan airport. Security cameras recorded the plane came close to birds during an aborted landing attempt.
The report continued, adding officials would oversee the dismantling of engines as well as examine their contents. They would also oversee the analysation of the black box and air traffic control data.
“These all-out investigation activities aim to accurately determine the cause of the accident,” the report said. Muan airport will remain closed until April 18.
