South Korea’s transport ministry has released a preliminary report detailing the tragic final moments of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, which crashed on December 29, 2024, at Muan International Airport. The disaster claimed the lives of 179 people, making it the deadliest air accident in the country’s history.
Timeline of Events (Korea Standard Time, GMT+9):
- 8:54:43 a.m.
Flight 7C2216 contacts Muan airport air traffic control (ATC) during its final approach and is cleared to land on runway 01, oriented 10 degrees east of north. - 8:57:50 a.m.
ATC issues a “caution – bird activity” advisory. - 8:58:11 a.m.
Pilots discuss spotting a flock of birds below the aircraft. - 8:58:50 a.m.
The aircraft’s flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) stop recording. At that moment, the plane is flying at 161 knots (298 km/h or 185 mph) at an altitude of 498 ft (152 meters). - 8:58:56 a.m.
The pilot declares a “Mayday” emergency, reporting a bird strike, and initiates a go-around. - 9:00 a.m.
Flight 7C2216 requests clearance to land on runway 19, approaching from the opposite end of the airport’s sole runway. - 9:01 a.m.
ATC grants clearance to land on runway 19. - 9:02 a.m.
The plane makes contact with the runway at approximately the 1,200m (1,312-yard) mark of the 2,800m (3,062-yard) runway. - 9:02:34 a.m.
ATC activates the airport’s crash alarm. - 9:02:55 a.m.
Fire rescue units deploy fully. - 9:02:57 a.m.
The plane overshoots the runway, crashing into an embankment. - 9:10 a.m.
The Transport Ministry is notified of the accident. - 9:23 a.m.
A male survivor is rescued and taken to a temporary medical facility. - 9:38 a.m.
Muan International Airport is closed. - 9:50 a.m.
A second survivor, located in the tail section of the plane, is rescued.
Context and Aftermath
The crash involved Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, with only two survivors among the 181 passengers and crew. The aircraft had initially attempted to land on runway 01 but had to perform a go-around due to a bird strike. Despite the crew’s efforts to land safely on runway 19, the plane overshot the runway and crashed.
Investigations are ongoing, and South Korea has shared initial findings with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as the U.S. and Thailand.