Key Takeaways
• Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed on December 29, 2024, after both engines ingested Baikal teal birds.
• South Korea will deploy drones, radars, and thermal cameras at all airports by 2028 to deter and detect birds.
• New rules move bird-attracting facilities away from airports, and safer runway structures will replace hazardous concrete localizers.
South Korea 🇰🇷 has begun rolling out new steps to make flying safer, especially after the recent deadly Jeju Air crash. On December 29, 2024, a Jeju Air flight crashed while trying to land at Muan International Airport. This tragic accident took the lives of 179 of the 181 people on board, making it the worst air disaster in South Korea 🇰🇷’s history.
The reason for the crash was a bird strike—a bird or group of birds got caught in the plane’s engines. This can cause engines to fail and is always a serious risk for airplanes, especially during takeoff and landing. In this case, the pilots tried to land the plane in an emergency but crashed after hitting a concrete structure near the runway.
This tragic event has pushed the government of South Korea 🇰🇷 to take big steps to make sure this never happens again. They have shared a list of new measures they will use at airports to stop birds from getting in the way of airplanes. Let’s look at what changes are coming, why they matter, and what it could mean for everyone who flies in and out of South Korea 🇰🇷.
The Jeju Air Crash: What Happened?
Jeju Air Flight 2216 was a Boeing 737-800 airplane. On its final approach to Muan International Airport, it ran into trouble. Both engines took in birds—a type called the Baikal teal, which arrives in South Korea 🇰🇷 in large numbers during the cold months. Soon after, the pilots called out “mayday” and tried to land. During the emergency landing, the plane hit a concrete localizer, a tool near the runway that helps pilots land safely. This crash led to almost everyone on board losing their lives.
Since the accident, investigators have found bird feathers and blood inside both engines. More tests showed these belonged to Baikal teals. However, the complete cause of the crash—whether it was just the bird strike, the hit on the concrete localizer, or both—is still being looked into.
Why Are Bird Strikes Such a Problem?
Bird strikes aren’t rare, but they can be deadly. When a bird gets sucked into an airplane engine, it can block the flow of air or damage the blades inside the motor. If more than one engine is affected, pilots may lose the power needed to fly safely. Bird strikes are a bigger problem in places where many birds are found, especially during times of the year when they migrate in groups.
Airports near water, fields, or forests are usually at higher risk. Certain birds, like ducks, are especially dangerous because of their size and the way they flock together. The airport where this crash happened—Muan International—has the highest bird strike rate among South Korea 🇰🇷’s regional airports. It has a rate of 0.09%, which may sound small, but it’s much higher than other airports in the country.
In fact, even before the accident, government and airport staff knew about the area’s high bird risk. Official documents from as early as 2007 talked about the birds, and a report in 2020 warned about the risk during takeoff and landing. Only ten days before the crash, twelve officials met at the airport to discuss an increase in bird strike incidents, but they said there were not enough people or equipment to scare birds away, and the loudspeakers they had didn’t work well outside the airport.
What Is South Korea 🇰🇷 Doing Now to Make Airports Safer?
1. Using Drones to Deter Birds
One of the main plans by the South Korea 🇰🇷 Transport Ministry is to use drones—small flying machines that can be controlled by people on the ground or run on their own with a computer. In the first half of 2025, drones will be sent to airports to help keep birds away from areas where planes take off and land.
But these are not just any drones. By the end of 2026, officials expect to have newer drones that can tell different types of birds apart. These smart drones can also spray bird repellent to make sure birds don’t come near the runway. The goal is for these advanced drones to be fully ready and in use by 2028.
Drones can cover wide areas quickly and can fly even where people or vehicles can’t reach. They’re seen as a strong new tool for fighting bird strikes, because they can move with the birds and be sent into action as soon as birds are spotted.
2. Adding More Bird Detection Devices
Currently, only four out of South Korea 🇰🇷’s fifteen airports have thermal cameras. These cameras can spot birds by picking up their body heat, which helps workers see them even at night or in bad weather. The plan now is to install these cameras at all airports, making it easier to see birds before they become a danger.
On top of that, new radar systems will be set up at airports. Radar works by sending out radio waves and picking up signals that bounce back, which helps to spot moving objects, like birds. These bird-detection radars can give workers a warning if birds are nearby, so steps can be taken fast to keep them away.
3. Scaring Birds Away with Sound and Light
South Korea 🇰🇷’s airports will also start using sonic devices and laser guns. Sonic devices make loud noises, which can scare birds away from certain areas. Laser guns use a beam of light to frighten birds without hurting them. Together, they can cover both day and night, keeping birds away with either sound or light.
There will also be new mobile vehicles with soundwave generators. These trucks can move around the airport and send out strong sounds that chase away bigger birds.
4. Making Safer Structures on the Ground
The deadly Jeju Air crash showed that concrete structures near runways can be a hazard if hit by a plane. South Korea 🇰🇷’s government now plans to switch to localizer structures that are less stiff. This means they will break or bend more easily if a plane hits them, instead of causing a lot of damage and danger to people inside the airplane.
5. Changing Rules Around Airports
The Ministry of Land in South Korea 🇰🇷 wants to pass new rules to move things that draw birds away from airports. This could include food waste treatment plants and orchards—places that give birds food or shelter. By moving these far from airports, the hope is to make airports less attractive to birds.
Beyond moving existing facilities, the new rules will also stop these types of facilities from being built close to airports in the future. This is an important change, as removing food sources is one of the best ways to keep birds away for good.
Wider Context: How South Korea 🇰🇷’s Plan Stands Out
Bird strikes are a problem at airports all around the world, not just in South Korea 🇰🇷. But after the Jeju Air accident, the scope and speed of these new safety steps set South Korea 🇰🇷 apart. The country is now seen as a leader in using modern tools—like drones and advanced detection systems—to fight the problem.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these changes could help prevent further disasters. If other countries see South Korea 🇰🇷’s plan working, they may follow the same path.
Challenges in Carrying Out These Plans
Putting all these steps in place takes time and money. Making, testing, and flying large numbers of drones, for example, needs trained workers, good technology, and rules to make sure they don’t get in the way of planes. There’s also a need to update all airports with new cameras, radars, and sound devices. Training staff to use all this equipment correctly is another task.
Regulatory changes can take even longer, as laws must be passed and existing facilities might fight against being moved. Making sure airports stick to the new rules will be essential.
What Does This Mean for Passengers and Airlines?
The new steps from South Korea 🇰🇷 aim to make airports safer for everyone—passengers, crew, and airlines. Travelers can expect that flights into and out of South Korea 🇰🇷 will be safer, with a much lower risk of bird-related accidents in the future.
For airlines, lower risk means they can operate with less worry about accidents, fewer costly emergency landings, and fewer delays. It may also mean that South Korea 🇰🇷 builds a reputation for being a safer location for connecting flights.
Airports may become quieter in some ways, as more use is made of drones and less on loudspeakers. People working at airports will see new training and more use of high-tech equipment as part of their daily routines.
Looking Back: Could the Disaster Have Been Prevented?
Many people are now asking if the Jeju Air crash could have been stopped. With documents showing that airport officials were worried about birds for years, and that equipment to scare birds was not working well just weeks before the crash, some believe more could have been done sooner.
But large-scale changes like the ones now planned take time, and many airports worldwide face the same problems. The real difference now is the commitment to fix the problems with better tools, smarter technologies, and stronger rules.
The Global Impact: Will Other Countries Follow?
If South Korea 🇰🇷’s new steps work as planned, other countries might adopt similar changes. Drones, radar, and new types of repellents could soon become standard at airports everywhere. Already, organizations that set rules for airports and airplanes, such as international aviation bodies, are watching closely.
More countries may start using thermal cameras and smart radars to keep a closer watch for birds. Building airports in places with fewer birds or making changes around airports to move bird habitats far away could also catch on.
Key Takeaways
Bird strikes remain a risky challenge for air travel, especially in places with lots of water, fields, or migrating bird groups. The disaster involving Jeju Air Flight 2216 shocked South Korea 🇰🇷 and has led to big changes in how the country protects its airports and the people who use them.
Here’s a summary of what’s on the way:
– Drones to scare off birds, with more advanced models arriving by 2028.
– Thermal cameras and radar at all airports to spot birds early.
– New sound and light devices to frighten birds.
– Softer structures on the ground to lessen impact if a crash happens.
– Laws to move or block bird-attracting facilities near airports.
If you want further updates or information about South Korea 🇰🇷’s aviation safety policies, you can visit the official Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport website for detailed news releases and updates.
For now, the focus is on making airports safer, so that another airline crash like Jeju Air Flight 2216 will never happen again. The eyes of the world are on South Korea 🇰🇷 as it moves forward with these important changes to aviation safety.
Learn Today
Bird Strike → When a bird collides with an aircraft, often causing engine failure or damage, especially during takeoff or landing.
Thermal Camera → A device that detects heat emitted by objects, useful for spotting birds even at night or during poor visibility.
Localizer → A ground-based navigation aid near runways that helps pilots align aircraft for safe landings, sometimes made of concrete.
Baikal Teal → A species of migratory duck that flocks through South Korea seasonally, involved in the Jeju Air accident.
Radar System → Technology using radio waves to detect and track moving objects like birds, helping warn airport staff of potential hazards.
This Article in a Nutshell
After the Jeju Air crash in December 2024, South Korea is leading airport safety reforms. By 2028, drones, thermal cameras, and new radars will help prevent deadly bird strikes. The country is also revising airport structures and regulations to protect passengers better, setting a new global standard for aviation safety.
— By VisaVerge.com
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