Bird Strike Investigation at Muan Airport
Mayank Munjal
South Korea's Muan International Airport, where a Jeju Air flight crashed after reporting a bird strike in Dec. 2024, has among the highest rate of bird strikes in the country.
One month after the deadly crash at Muan airport a preliminary report has revealed blood and feathers were found in both engines. The remains of the migratory Baikal teal, a Siberian duck, provide evidence that a bird strike happened during those fatal final minutes.
Unfortunately, it is still unclear at this stage how much the bird strike contributed to the eventual crash of the Jeju Air flight on Dec. 29, 2024. However, the bird strike has become a focal point of the investigation, throwing into question the seriousness of bird strikes to aviation worldwide.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), there were more than 270,000 reports of wildlife strikes to aircraft between 2016 and 2021. Only 3% of these incidents reported some form of damage to parts of the aircraft. The United States-based Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) also tracks reports of wildlife strikes and similarly shows over 90% of incidents had no damage to the aircraft.
Most strikes do not impact a flight
In more than 90% of the wildlife strikes, aircraft do not report any damage or consequence for the ongoing flight.
Charts present a breakdown of incidents of wildlife strikes that were reported by airlines in the United States between 1990 and 2024. Only about 9% of the incidents either reported damage to the aircraft or any impact on the flight. Impact on the flights included aborted takeoff, precautionary landing and engine shutdowns. Of all incidents only about 2% reported significant damage and 0.02% caused such damage that the aircraft was written-off.
Note: Based on incidents of wildlife strikes reported by airlines in the United States between 1990 and 2024 for which data on damage and consequence was available.
Source: United States’ Federal Aviation Administration
Reports from both the ICAO and FAA also revealed a general pattern for when most incidents occur — during take-off or landing procedures, when birds are more likely present at those lower altitudes.
Most strikes take place close to ground
More than 90% incidents happen either during the takeoff, climb, approach or landing.
Chart shows the breakup of wildlife incidents reported by airlines in the United States between 1990 and 2024 based on the phase of the flight when the strike occurred. Most strikes happen during the takeoff and landing procedures when an aircraft is either on ground or at a low altitude.
Note: Based on incidents of wildlife strikes reported by airlines in the United States between 1990 and 2024.
Source: United States’ Federal Aviation Administration
The most serious incidents since 1912
Avisure, an international aviation risk consultancy firm based in Australia, independently compiled all incidents that involved wildlife strikes which resulted in fatalities, destroyed aircraft or both.
The database starts with the first reported incident on April 3, 1912, when Calbraith Perry Rodgers, who was piloting a Wright Flyer, flew into a flock of seagulls over Long Beach, California, killing him.
There were more than a dozen military incidents after this one until the next civilian accident on April 30, 1953 where one person died and 22 survived.
Wildlife strikes that resulted in human fatalities and/or completely destroyed aircrafts on civil flights since 1953
Phil Shaw, founder and managing director of Avisure, said that while the data shows that larger civilian planes tend to escape with minimal or no fatalities after a bird strike this is mostly due to fortunate circumstances.
For example, the Hudson river incident that took place on Jan. 15, 2009 could have resulted in a large number of fatalities if not for the quick thinking of the pilot and the suitable river nearby. Similarly, a Ural Airlines flight carrying 233 people could have ended tragically if not for the corn field that provided a suitable area for the emergency landing.
A graphic shows images and descriptions of three consequential cases of bird strikes in aviation - including the US Airways flight 1549 that ditched in Hudson river in the New York City, the Ural Airlines flight 178 that landed in a cornfield and the Kalitta Air flight 207 that aborted takeoff and broke in three parts at the end of the runway.
Where they strike matters
While the number and size of the birds can escalate the potential impact to an aircraft, it also makes a difference where the birds impact the aircraft.
According to ICAO reports, most strikes happen at the front of the plane and to the wings, engine or propeller. However, while most planes can stabilise themselves with just one engine in the case of a strike, if both engines are affected this can greatly increase the severity of the outcome to the aircraft or humans on board.
Birds mostly strike the front, engines and wings of aircrafts
A charts shows the breakdown of all bird strike incidents reported globally to the International Civil Aviation Organization by the parts of the aircraft that were struck. Nose, radome, windshield, wing and engines were the most struck parts of an aircraft.
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization
Types of birds and wildlife
A wide variety of species have been reported to have collided with aircraft. However, the vast majority are birds and this can more seriously impact airports at coastal areas, near wetlands or along migratory paths, like the Muan airport.
Muan airport has among the highest rate of bird strikes in South Korea
The airport reported only 9 bird strikes in five years (2019-2023) but it is among the South Korean airports with the highest rate of bird strikes per 1,000 flights.
A bar chart shows the rate of bird strikes or number of bird strikes per thousand flights at 15 airports across South Korea. Muan and Sacheon airports have the highest rate of bird strikes, based on data for 2019-23 period.
Note: Based on Reuters calculation for 2019-23 period with the number of flights to and from the airports, and number of bird strikes reported at each airport.
Sources: Korea Airports Corporation; South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Office of Rep. Lee Yeon-hee
Common birds at Muan Airport
The airport at Muan is located in a coastal area and near wetlands which provides a suitable environment for birds to nest. A government report revealed that this area was home to both resident birds such as Black-billed Magpie and Tree Sparrow, and migratory birds like the Mallard and Gray Heron.
Drawings of birds that are most commonly found near South Korea’s Muan international airport, including Baikal teal that the Jeju Air flight collided with before it crashed at the airport in December 2024.
Most common
Worldwide, the most common types of birds which are involved in strikes fall in the categories of hawks, eagles and vultures. Perching birds, such as European starlings, and shore birds, such as Gulls or Killdeer make up for 45% of reported incidents.
Chart presents a breakup of bird strike incidents globally by the species the aircraft hit. Hawks, eagles and vultures lead the incidents with 28% cases, followed by perching birds at 27% and shore birds at 18%. Mammals and reptiles make up 5% of the reported cases.
Drawings of birds that are most commonly struck by aircrafts globally.
Incidents peak in summer
More bird strikes are reported from spring to autumn, when avian activity is at its peak after birds migrate to the warmer northern hemisphere.
Chart shows the monthly distribution of cases of bird strikes in a year.
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization
Other types of birds
Other birds, which make up 22% of reported incidents to the ICAO, include a wide-range of types including owls, hummingbirds and even parrots.
Drawings of other types of birds that make up 22% of the reported incidents of bird strikes.
Mammals and reptiles
Among the most unusual category of incidents are those involving mammals and reptiles.
One incident in 2004 involved a giraffe at Santawani airstrip in Botswana. It collided with a Cessna 172, destroying the plane and killing the animal too. Even wallabies, alligators and turtles have been reported to strike aircraft.
Anti-bird strike and wildlife measures
The Muan airport uses traditional measures such as guns, air cannons and loudspeakers to scare away birds. Beyond these traditional measures, however, experts said a lot of the work begins well before an airport is even established. Appropriate surveying and assessments of the area around the airport are needed to identify possible bird nesting areas, as well as maintenance of the drainage and vegetation surrounding it.
Experts said there is a lack of training in the wider aviation industry when it comes to what to do in the event of a bird strike. It is rare to have simulated trainings for both pilots and air traffic control personnel. Another measure that could help would be overall improvements to sensors and communication tools that could provide alerts at critical moments.
Additional reporting by
Hyunjoo Jin
Sources
ICAO; FAA; Avisure; Aviation Safety Network; Korea Airports Corporation; South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board; Office of Rep. Lee Yeon-hee; United States’ National Transportation Safety Board; Belgium’s Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport; French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis.
Edited by
Rebecca Pazos, Simon Scarr and Michael Perry
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Posted May 29, 2025
Investigation into bird strike incidents at Muan Airport after Jeju Air crash.
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Dec 24, 2024 - Dec 29, 2024
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