South Korean aviation officials have concluded that the pilot’s error led to last December’s fatal runaway accident in Muan. Investigators revealed that the pilot mistakenly shut down the left engine, which was functioning, instead of the bird strike damaging the right engine.
The crash of Flight 2216 killed 179 of 181 people on board, making it the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil. On December 29, pilots reported a bird strike and made a mayday call as they neared Muan International Airport’s runway.
Instead of aborting, they attempted to land from the opposite direction without deploying the landing gear, causing a belly landing. The aircraft skidded across the tarmac and collided with a concrete barrier, erupting in flames upon impact and trapping passengers.
Investigators sent both engines to France in March and concluded the left engine was shut off despite having no faults. Families of victims protested the findings, saying officials unfairly blamed the pilot while ignoring runway design and airline accountability.
They demanded a press conference be delayed until authorities complete a more comprehensive and impartial examination of the disaster. The Jeju Air pilots’ union also criticized the report, saying it focused too heavily on individual error over systematic flaws.
Officials from the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board say they will not revise findings backed by clear technical evidence. South Korea’s transport ministry later announced plans to remove concrete barriers at seven airports, including Muan, for safety upgrades.
