JeJu Air Preliminary Report 27 Jan 2025

Brief Summary

This video analyzes the preliminary report on the Jaju 737 disaster in South Korea, which occurred on December 29th, killing 179 people. The report provides details about the aircraft, flight crew, weather conditions, and the events leading up to the crash. The report highlights the crew's limited experience, particularly the first officer, who had just over 300 hours of basic flying training. The report also mentions a bird strike during a go-around maneuver, but it's unclear whether the bird strike caused the engine failure or if the go-around was initiated due to a pre-existing engine problem. The investigation is ongoing, and the authorities are examining the engines, data recorders, and ATC data to determine the cause of the crash.

• The report provides details about the aircraft, flight crew, weather conditions, and the events leading up to the crash.
• The report highlights the crew's limited experience, particularly the first officer, who had just over 300 hours of basic flying training.
• The report mentions a bird strike during a go-around maneuver, but it's unclear whether the bird strike caused the engine failure or if the go-around was initiated due to a pre-existing engine problem.

Aircraft and Crew

The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800 model, first delivered to Ryanair in 2009. Jaju Air leased the aircraft in February 2017. The report details the flight crew's experience, revealing that the captain had over 6,800 hours of total flight time, including 2,559 hours as a captain in the 737. The first officer had 1,650 hours of total flight time, with 1,339 hours in the 737. These figures highlight the relatively limited experience of the first officer, who had just over 300 hours of basic flying training before being assigned to the 737.

Weather and Wreckage

The weather at the time of the accident was good, with light winds and clear skies. The report includes new pictures of the wreckage, showing the aircraft's impact with the localizer embankment, which caused significant damage. The pictures also show the aft fuselage, where the two surviving flight attendants were found, and the damaged engines.

Flight History and Bird Strike

The flight departed from Thailand at 04:30 local time and was scheduled to land at 09:00 local time. The report details the communication between the flight crew and the air traffic control tower, including the tower's advisory about bird activity at 08:57:50. The data recorders stopped recording at 08:58:50, just one minute after the bird activity advisory. Six seconds later, the aircraft transmitted a Mayday call, indicating a bird strike during a go-around maneuver. The report suggests that the crew was already initiating a go-around when they struck the birds, but it's unclear whether the bird strike caused the engine failure or if the go-around was initiated due to a pre-existing engine problem.

Investigation and Analysis

The South Korean aviation authorities are investigating the crash, examining the engines, data recorders, ATC data, and bird strike evidence. They are also looking into the localizer embankment and will make safety recommendations if necessary. The investigation is being assisted by the NTSB in the US and the BEA in France. The report concludes with more questions than answers, highlighting the need for further investigation to determine the cause of the crash.