Duck DNA, bird feathers found in ill-fated Jeju Air jet engines: Probe

A preliminary investigation into South Korea’s worst aviation disaster has discovered that the engines of a plane that crashed last month contained bird remains.

The Boeing 737-800 jet’s two engines had DNA from Baikal Teals, a type of migratory duck that flies to South Korea for winter in large flocks, according to a six-page report released on Monday by South Korean authorities.

Bird bloodstains and feathers were “found on each” engine, it added.

However, the report made no initial conclusions about the Jeju Air plane’s possible landing conditions and why flight data recorders stopped recording in the final four minutes of the flight.

South Korean and US investigators continue to conduct their inquiries.

‘ Group of birds ‘

On December 29, the plane crashed-landed and descended into a fireball after crashing into a concrete barrier while it was traveling from Thailand to Muan, South Korea.

The disaster killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew of the plane.

A security camera captured HL8088 approaching a group of birds during a go-around, according to the report, which also mentions the registration number of the Jeju Air jet.

The pilots were advised to use caution after the air traffic control tower cleared the aircraft for a possible bird strike at 8:58am, according to the report.

Just a minute later, both the voice and data recording systems stopped functioning, while the plane was already at an altitude of about 152 metres (500 feet) and just 2km (1.2 miles) from the runway.

The pilots attempted a belly landing seconds after the recording systems failed and declared Mayday as a result of a bird strike.

When the plane collided with a concrete embankment during its landing, the runway’s end was surrounded by a barricade of some kind.

Authorities announced last week that “breakable structures” would be used to replace concrete barriers at airports across the country.

The captain had more than 6, 800 flight hours, while the first officer had 1, 650 hours, according to the report.

Both were killed in the crash, which was survived only by two flight attendants.

A preliminary report must be made within 30 days of the accident, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and a final report must be made public within 12 months.