On the 29 December 2024, all but two souls onboard the Juju Aircraft to Muan, South Korea, were killed when the plane crashed following a bird strike.
The crash of Flight 2216 led to 179 deaths
A total of 181 people boarded Flight 2216, operated by Jeju Air, from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Investigators reported findings of feathers belonging to the Baikal teal, which is a type of migratory duck. They are known to fly in groups with hundreds to thousands of the birds in a flock.
The Boeing 737-800 should have been able to land safely despite the bird strike. Shortly before the crash, a mayday was broadcasted to the nearby airport. The mayday was followed by the pilot asking for permission to land, before skidding and belly-landing into a concrete structure near the runway.
Opinions vary on how different the death toll may have been without the structure in the way
The structure in which the plane crashed into was used to hold a navigation system, a localiser. Localisers are on-ground runway approach aids used to help the pilot and air-traffic-control team when taking off and landing.
After skidding along the runway, the plane slammed into the localiser structure, bursting into flames upon impact. Pilots and experts debate that without the structure, the plane may have slowed along the runway, crashing at a slower speed – resulting in less destruction.
The Localiser is a very common structure used in numerous airports around the world, and unfortunately, the addition of the bird strike to the plane’s engines caused numerous internal issues to the aircraft.
Families of victims sue Boeing for ‘Deadly Defects in outdated 1960s-Era Landing Systems’
Almost a year later to the incident, Herrmann Law Group located in Seattle, is suing Boeing on behalf of 14 families who lost family members on 29 December 2024.
The complaint details Boeing’s failings:
“Rather than admitting its fault in this tragic accident, Boeing resorts to its old, worn out ‘blame the pilots’ tactic. These pilots make easy targets; they perished in the flames with the passengers. They cannot defend themselves” said Charles Herrmann, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. “Bereaved Families deserve the truth. Met with evasion in Korea, these plaintiffs seek justice in U.S. courts where we can legally compel them to reveal the truth”
The complaint follows on to detail that DNA tests confirm the bird strike, with the birds weighing around ‘one pound each’. The bird strike is reported to then have triggered multiple system failures.
The plane, according to U.S Code of Federal Regulations, 14 C.F.R §33.76(c), should have been able to ingest up to four one-pound birds, ‘without thrust falling below 75 percent’. The right engine reportedly dropped to 55% thrust, which is not enough for the aircraft to remain safely in the sky.
The generators stopped producing AC Power, leading to backup failures. ‘The Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder and transponder all went offline simultaneously’. The complaint then alleges that the systems in place to slow the aircraft before and after landing, failed.
‘Paramount among these failures was the landing gear, which failed to extend. Not only does it add aerodynamic drag while airborne, the wheel brakes are essential to stop the aircraft. The reverse thrusters, which redirect engine thrust forward, are also critical for braking and likewise failed to function properly. Finally, flaps, slats, and spoilers did not deploy’
Travel Radar sends our sympathy to the victims and their families
All of the systems designed to protect those on board, failed, on numerous occasions on this flight alone. What are your thoughts? Let us know below
