Bird Feathers, Blood Found In Both Engines Of Crashed South Korean Jeju Air Plane That Killed 179

Investigators have found bird feathers and blood in both engines of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 that crashed in South Korea last month, resulting in the deaths of 179 people, a source familiar with the investigation revealed on Friday.

The aircraft, en route from Bangkok to Muan County, belly-landed at the regional airport, overshooting the runway before bursting into flames upon colliding with an embankment.

However, only two crew members seated at the rear of the aircraft survived.

Four minutes prior to the crash, one of the pilots reported a bird strike and declared an emergency, South Korean aviation authorities confirmed.

The pilot attempted a go-around maneuver and aimed to land on the opposite end of the runway but tragically failed.

Meanwhile, two minutes before the pilot’s Mayday call, air traffic control had issued a cautionary advisory about "bird activity" in the area, adding weight to concerns about wildlife hazards near the airport.

Video footage analyzed by investigators confirmed that a bird strike occurred on one of the engines during the approach.

Further examination revealed bird feathers and traces of blood in both engines recovered from the crash site.

Reuters reports that South Korea's transport ministry has declined to confirm reports that feathers and blood were found in both engines of the jet involved in last month's crash.

The investigation faces a hurdle as the plane's two black boxes stopped recording roughly four minutes before the crash, leaving key moments unaccounted for.

Sim Jai-dong, a former accident investigator with the transport ministry, called the missing data "surprising," suggesting it could indicate a complete loss of power, including backup systems—an extremely rare scenario.

While bird strikes affecting both engines are also uncommon, history has shown that such incidents do not always end in tragedy.

Notable examples include the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson," where a US Airways pilot safely landed on a river after a bird strike, and a 2019 emergency landing in a Russian cornfield, both with no fatalities.