Bird strike hazard – (an illustration only)
Did the Jeju Air crash in South Korea show any signs of a possible bird strike?
Yes, there was clear evidence of a bird strike when the pilot transmitted, “Bird Strike, Bird Strike, going around!” This was later confirmed by investigators, who found blood and feathers on the engines. However, questions arose about why the flaps were not deployed and the landing gear not lowered, both critical for a safe landing.
Approximately four minutes before the crash, the aircraft’s black box stopped recording, depriving investigators of crucial data that could have clarified the events leading to the tragedy.
Bird strikes are a common hazard for planes worldwide. To ensure safety, the FAA requires commercial jet engines to be rigorously designed and tested to operate even when birds are ingested.
One critical test involves the use of a “chicken gun,” a device that fires bird carcasses – typically defrosted chickens – at high speeds toward aircraft components such as windshields, engines, and wings. This simulates bird strikes during flight to assess the ability of aircraft components to withstand such impacts.
Engineers evaluate the damage and make necessary improvements if components fail to meet safety standards
However, there was a humorous (and often exaggerated) urban story associated with the chicken gun test about a company supposedly firing frozen chickens instead of thawed ones. Well, using frozen birds would exaggerate the damage and yield unrealistic results.
While entertaining, such stories are mostly fictional versions of real tests, as aviation engineers are meticulous about using realistic test conditions.
A famous example of a bird strike accident involved Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who landed US Airways Flight 1549 on an Airbus A320 in the Hudson River in 2009 after both engines failed due to a collision with a flock of geese. Canada geese, which can weigh up to 14 pounds, can cause significant damage at high speeds – akin to a bowling ball smashing into a plane’s components. Fortunately, all 155 passengers and crew survived, bringing public attention to the dangers of bird strikes.
To prevent bird strikes, many airports worldwide implement wildlife management programs. Methods include pyrotechnics, trained predators, and habitat modifications to minimize bird activity near airfields. Some airports use cannons to scare birds away, while others adopt laser technology. For instance, Frankfurt Airport employs handheld laser devices that mimic natural predators, prompting birds to vacate the area.
In the Jeju Air Boeing 737 crash, the initial touchdown was successful despite the bird strike. However, the flapless, gear-up landing, combined with a high-speed approach, led to a collision with a hard obstruction beyond the runway, resulting in the tragic loss of 179 lives.
View a YouTube on Jeju Air plane crashes, all onboard dead except 2 rescued