South Korea Jeju Air plane crash claims 167 lives. A look at recent aviation tragedies

As 2024 draws to a close, the aviation industry is facing a troubling end to the year, with several recent plane crashes raising serious concerns about passenger safety. These tragic incidents, which have resulted in significant casualties, highlight ongoing risks in air travel.

Let's take a closer look at some of the recent crashes and their devastating impact.

1. South Korea: Jeju Air Planes

Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800, was involved in a tragic accident at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on December 29. The aircraft overran the runway and collided with a ground obstacle, causing it to disintegrate and burst into flames.

Also Read: South Korea plane crash: What led to the tragic Jeju Air disaster at Muan Airport?

According to the local media report, Korean authorities confirmed that 167 were killed. Preliminary investigations suggest the aircraft landed gear-up without the flaps deployed, which may have contributed to the accident, as reported by AFP.

2. Azerbaijan Airlines

On Wednesday, 25 December 2024, Flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to the Chechen capital Grozny, crash-landed on Wednesday near Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from southern Russia, where Ukrainian drones were reported to be attacking several cities. At least 38 people were killed. Flightradar24 data indicated fluctuating altitude and speed readings before the crash.

At that time, Ukrainian military drones were reported to be carrying out attacks in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz. Rosaviatsiya states that the airspace was closed as a result, without stating the closure timeframe in relation to flight 8243. In addition, according to Rosaviatsiya, there was 'dense fog' in the area of Grozny Airport, according to a report by Aviation Safety Network.

3. Papua New Guinea

On 22 December 2024, a Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islander, operated by North Coast Aviation, collided with wooded terrain in the Sapmanga Valley, approximately 32 nautical miles northeast of Nadzab, Papua New Guinea. The crash resulted in five fatalities, according to a report by Aviation Safety Network.

Also Read: Close call for Air Canada flight as plane touches down with damaged landing gear in Halifax | Watch

4. UK

An Emerald Airlines UK ATR 72-600, identified by the callsign EAG71P, experienced a nose landing gear collapse during its landing on runway 04 at Belfast Airport. Additional images show significant damage to the landing gear and the front of the aircraft. Fortunately, there were no fatalities reported.

5. Sudan

On 25 October 2024, While landing at a local airstrip after an agricultural spraying flight, a plane struck a tuk-tuk carrying 15 people. The collision resulted in the tragic deaths of 4 tuk-tuk occupants, while 8 others sustained injuries. The 3 crew members, consisting of Ukrainian and Sudanese nationals, were unharmed. The aircraft, however, sustained significant damage to its right wing and propeller, said the report.

6. Malawa

A Malawi Air Force Dornier 228-202K crashed into the side of a mountain in poor weather conditions, resulting in the deaths of all nine people on board. The aircraft first collided with the trunk of a tree, impacting the outer part of its right-wing at approximately 4.5 meters above the ground. The plane's lower fuselage then struck the ground, causing the aircraft to break up. The main wreckage was found about 80 meters from the tree, on a slope.

Also Read: Putin apologises to Azerbaijan’s Aliyev for ‘tragic’ plane crash amid buzz of Russian Air Defence involvement

How common are the bird strikes?

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), approximately 90% of bird strikes occur near airports, typically during aircraft takeoff or landing, or at lower altitudes where bird activity is most prevalent. Bird strikes can be particularly hazardous for smaller aircraft, especially single-engine planes, where such incidents have the potential to be fatal. Since 1988, there have been 262 reported bird strike fatalities worldwide, along with 250 aircraft destroyed due to these incidents.