Jeju Air Crash Survivors: A Story of resilience
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On December 30, 2024, tragedy struck Muan international Airport in South Korea, as a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 passengers and crew from Bangkok experienced a catastrophic landing. The aircraft, believed to have suffered a bird strike and subsequent landing gear failure, belly-landed and collided with a wall at the end of the runway, resulting in a devastating explosion.
Out of the 181 souls on board, 179 perished in the fiery crash. Remarkably,two crew members emerged alive from the wreckage,defying the odds of survival.
The tail section of the aircraft remained identifiable amidst the wreckage, a grim testament to the immense force of the impact. The rest of the plane was extensively damaged by fire.
One of the survivors, a 33-year-old male crew member, is now conscious and communicating, despite suffering multiple bone fractures. “When I woke up, I realized I was saved,” he told medical staff at Ewha Hospital in seoul, according to the hospital director.The second survivor, a female crew member, is receiving treatment at Asan Hospital in Seoul.
Airport Runway End Wall Under Scrutiny
following the Jeju Air tragedy, investigators are examining the potential role of the runway end wall in the crash. Questions are being raised about its design and proximity to the runway, and weather it contributed to the severity of the accident.
The Jeju Air accident, which tragically claimed the lives of many passengers, unfolded through a series of devastating events. The plane, forced to make an emergency belly landing, skidded across the runway before colliding with a wall, resulting in a fatal explosion. The presence of this wall near the runway has sparked concern and questions about safety protocols.
According to Kim kwang-il, a professor of aeronautics at Silla University and a former pilot, the location of the wall poses a direct violation of international aviation safety standards.
Professor Kim, who reviewed footage of the incident, noted that while the initial emergency landing appeared to be executed competently, the impact with the wall ultimately led to the catastrophic fire.
“Normally, at the end of the runway, there are no such solid obstacles,” Kim stated. “The building caused the plane to impact and catch fire.”
“Outside the airport, usually it’s just a soft fence and won’t cause any important damage. planes can roll and then stop naturally. Such non-essential buildings are very, very regrettable,” he added.
Black Box Found, 1 in Damaged Condition
Jeju Air Crash Inquiry Faces Delays Due to Damaged Flight Data Recorder
The investigation into the Jeju Air plane crash at Muan Airport in South Korea is facing potential delays due to damage sustained by the aircraft’s flight data recorder (FDR). While the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was found intact, authorities revealed that the FDR, which tracks crucial flight data like altitude, airspeed, and heading, was partially damaged. 
The incident occurred last Sunday when the Boeing 737-800 plane, carrying residues of the Jeju Air aircraft, landed without its wheels deployed at Muan airport after the pilots received a bird strike warning from air traffic control. The aircraft skidded along the runway, collided with a concrete wall, and ultimately caught fire.
According to an Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Agency official, decoding a damaged FDR is a complex process that could take up to a month. “Decoding the FDR alone could take about a month,” the official disclosed.
Typically,investigations into major aviation accidents take several months to complete. The damage to the FDR in this case adds another layer of complexity to the process.
If both black boxes were found undamaged, decoding the data could possibly be completed within a week. However, if the FDR proves too difficult to decipher locally, it might need to be sent to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for analysis. This would likely extend the investigation timeline to at least six months.
“If we have trouble deciphering the code here, then we may have to send it to the NTSB,” another official from the investigation board stated. “They have cases from all over the world to analyze, so it could take quite a long time,” he added.
The Science Behind a Secure Spacecraft
Space exploration demands vehicles that can endure extreme conditions.To ensure the safety of astronauts and the success of missions, spacecraft are engineered with remarkable resilience. One crucial aspect of this design is the protection of critical systems, especially those located in the tail section of a spacecraft.It’s in this area where designers have implemented a captivating solution – a robust system designed to withstand tremendous forces and heat. These systems are engineered to endure impacts 3,400 times stronger than Earth’s gravity and temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius. This remarkable durability ensures that the core components of the spacecraft remain functional even in the event of a catastrophic event, safeguarding the mission’s integrity and potentially the lives of the crew. By strategically positioning these resilient systems in the tail, engineers minimize the potential impact on the rest of the spacecraft, further enhancing its chances of survival. “Both are made to withstand impacts of 3,400 times the force of Earth’s gravity and temperatures of more than 1,000 C. Both are installed in the tail to minimize damage in the event of an accident.”## Archyde Exclusive Interview: Professor Kim Kwang-il on the Jeju Air Crash
**Archyde:** Professor Kim,thank you for joining us today.The Jeju Air crash has shaken the world. as a leading expert in aeronautics, can you shed some light on what might have contributed to this tragedy?
**Professor Kim:** This incident is truly heartbreaking. While a thorough investigation is underway, initial observations raise serious concerns, particularly regarding the runway’s end wall.
**Archyde:** You’ve stated that the wall’s presence directly contradicts international aviation safety standards. Coudl you elaborate on that?
**Professor Kim:** Airports are designed with safety as the paramount concern. Typically, there are no rigid structures at the end of runways. Soft barriers like fences are standard, allowing planes to decelerate and stop safely even in emergency landings. This wall,though,seems to have acted like a barrier,causing the aircraft to shatter upon impact and leading to the tragic fire.
**Archyde:** We understand the aircraft suffered bird strike damage prior to landing. Could that have played a important role?
**Professor Kim:** While a bird strike can certainly cause issues, experienced pilots are trained to handle such scenarios. From the footage I’ve reviewed, the initial emergency landing seemed to have been handled competently. The real turning point appears to have been the collision with the wall, which ultimately resulted in the catastrophic fire.
**Archyde:** Authorities are also facing challenges recovering crucial data from the damaged flight data recorder. How crucial is that facts to understanding the events leading up to the crash?
**Professor Kim:**
The flight data recorder is essentially a black box containing vital information about the flight’s trajectory, speed, altitude, and other critical parameters. While the cockpit voice recorder will provide valuable insights into pilot communication, the FDR data is essential for reconstructing the sequence of events and identifying any technical malfunctions that might have contributed to the crash.
**archyde:** Professor Kim,this tragedy raises many questions about airport safety protocols. Do you believe changes are needed within the aviation industry based on this incident?
** Professor Kim:** This Jeju Air crash serves as a stark reminder that safety must never be compromised. Airports worldwide should carefully assess their runway setups and adherence to international safety standards. While this incident is a massive tragedy, we must learn from it and implement measures to prevent such devastating accidents from happening again.
**Archyde:** Thank you for sharing your expertise, Professor Kim. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of this terrible tragedy.
