At a recent meeting of a bird strike prevention committee at Muan International Airport in South Korea, officials expressed concerns about an increase in aircraft being hit by birds, particularly during landings due to flocks near the coastline. Despite efforts made by the airport to deter birds using vehicles and loudspeakers, these measures were insufficient to prevent a tragic crash on Dec. 29, where a Jeju Air flight crashed, killing 179 of the 181 occupants.
Investigations found bird feathers and blood in the jet’s engines, indicating a bird strike possibly caused the crash. A lack of staff monitoring for birds was also noted, with only one individual on duty instead of the required minimum of two. The South Korean government has pledged funds to improve bird-strike prevention measures at all airports, including installing detection devices and radar to alert controllers, patrollers, and pilots to the presence of birds.
Experts question the location of Muan Airport near bird habitats and advocate for more stringent guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future. South Korea’s plans to build more airports along the western coastline raise concerns among conservationists about potential risks to bird habitats. The Muan Airport remains closed, awaiting safety measures before resuming commercial flights. Conservationists emphasize the need to consider bird populations when planning new airports to prevent future tragedies.
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