South Korea is introducing new rules and equipment intended to reduce the risk of aviation accidents caused by bird strikes. The Ministry of Land made the announcement on 6 February 2025 as a result of findings in an ongoing investigation into a deadly plane crash that occurred in December 2024.
The accident happened on 29 December 2024, when a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok coming into South Korea’s Muan International in South Jeolla province, reported to control tower staff it had been hit by bird activity and was forced to attempt an emergency landing without its landing gear. It landed on its belly, skidded along the ground and hit a concrete embankment structure, killing all 179 passengers on board and all crew except two cabin staff.
Bird activity detection systems
Air accident investigators confirmed to the press in early February that remnants of a bird strike had been found on the Boeing 737-800. In response, the Ministry of Land has said bird activity detection systems will be put in place at air hubs all over the country. The rollout is expected to be completed in 2026.
“All airports will be equipped with at least one thermal imaging camera,” officials said, adding that technology to monitor the presence and direction of travel of “medium- and large-sized birds” would also be put in place. “Bird detection radars will be installed at all airports to enhance early detection of distant birds and improve response capabilities for aircraft,” officials said.
A Jeju Air flight 7C2216 carrying 181 passengers and six flight attendants drove off the runway and crashed into a wall at Muan International Airport in South Korea 🇰🇷
— Sumit (@SumitHansd) December 29, 2024
179 Dead, 2 Survivors
Video footage released by MBC News showing a bird strike before the crash. pic.twitter.com/Y5T4syTSgl
Airport zones to be cleared
In addition, civil infrastructure that tends to attract birds, such as waste disposal facilities, will be moved away from airport surroundings.
Seven airports are also due to have their runway safety areas adapted following a nationwide review. These areas are designated areas surrounding runways that are supposed to be kept clear of obstacles that could jeopardise aircraft during take-off and landing manoeuvres. South Korean aviation experts have already reported that the concrete structure the Jeju Air flight smashed into made the incident and its casualty rate much worse than it should have been.
Tens of thousands of bird strikes per year
Aircraft bird strikes are a known aviation hazard, as well as an ecological threat, with tens of thousands of incidents occurring every year. A pilot scheme in Alaska in 2024 explored an innovative way to limit the problem, by deploying a dog-like robot called Aurora to simulate predator movements and scare bird populations away from airport zones.
