Jeju Air crash report blames pilot error

An investigation into South Korea’s deadliest air disaster has found that the pilot mistakenly shut off the wrong engine after a bird strike. But victims’ families say it unfairly blames him while overlooking other factors

SOUTH KOREA
Seoul
Muan
100km
60 miles

Boeing 737-800

DEC 29 TIMELINE*

8:58:26 am, local time: Jeju Air Flight 2216 hit by birds while approaching Muan International Airport

8:58:50: Plane stops recording data

Captain instructs pilot to “shut down engine number two” – right engine which suffered serious damage

8:58:45: Pilot mistakenly pulls fuel cutoff switch for less damaged left engine – plane left running on just one damaged engine

Jet turns around and, with limited electrical power, tries to land without landing gear

Path of turn unknown

9:05:57: Plane crashes into concrete wall at end of runway and bursts into flames. All but two of 181 people on board killed

1km
0.6 miles

*Based on preliminary report released on Jan 27 and on official interim report shown to families of victims on Jul 19

Sources: Simple Flying, Reuters, NYT, South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), FlightRadar24
Pictures: Google Earth
© GRAPHIC NEWS