South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) said in an interim report that the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash at Muan International Airport (MWX) on December 29, 2024, in which 179 people died, may have resulted from the pilot mistakenly shutting down the wrong engine after a bird strike.

The findings, presented to victims’ families during a briefing at Muan Airport on July 19, 2025, reveal that the captain mistakenly shut down the left engine, which was operating normally, instead of the right engine, which had been severely damaged by a bird strike during approach.

Critical error under pressure

Flight data and cockpit voice recordings revealed that the captain instructed to “shut down engine number two,” referring to the damaged right engine. However, investigators found that the fuel cutoff switch for engine number one, on the left, was pulled instead. The pilot then activated the fire extinguisher on the left engine, permanently disabling it from being restarted.

Both engines were later sent to France in March 2025 for detailed examination, which confirmed that the left engine had no mechanical issues and its electronic systems were functioning normally.

With the right engine already powerless due to the bird strike, shutting down the left engine caused a complete loss of thrust, leaving the crew with no available power. Investigators also confirmed that the landing gear lever had not been activated, meaning the wheels were never deployed before the aircraft performed a belly landing and crashed into a concrete embankment beyond the runway.

A preliminary report released in January 2025 had pointed to bird strikes as the likely cause after DNA from Baikal teals, a duck species common in East Asia, was found in both engines. Initial interpretations assumed that damage to both engines led to electrical and hydraulic failures. The new findings, however, indicate that while the right engine ingested birds and caught fire, the left engine failed due to an incorrect shutdown command.

Families object to findings

Families of the victims strongly objected to the conclusions, arguing that the investigation overlooks critical questions.

“The explanation by the Hangcheolhoe Committee omits key issues, such as the specific condition of the engine damage and how many birds flocked there to lead to the engine failure,” the families’ association said, according to Yonhap. “We have requested the disclosure of FDR [flight data recorder] and CVR [cockpit voice recorder] data for objective verification, but this has not been accepted so far.”

After the briefing by ARAIB, family representatives arrived at the venue for the scheduled press conference and demanded its cancellation. The commission agreed, retracted the press release that had already been distributed, and canceled the official announcement.

The Korea Civil Aviation Pilots Association also criticized the report, arguing that it focuses solely on cockpit mistakes and shields government agencies and the Korea Airports Corporation, both of which are currently under police investigation for possible negligence.

“The investigation team has clear evidence and backup data, so its finding will not change,” a source told Reuters.

The investigation will continue with a review of crew training and emergency response procedures. ARAIB has not yet announced when the final report will be published.

STORY: A planned media release of a progress report into South Korea’s deadly Jeju Air crash was pushed back over the weekend, as victims’ families staged an angry protest.

On Monday, there was still no sign of the official report.

::Lee Geun-young

But a source with knowledge of the probe told Reuters, it includes ‘clear evidence’ that the pilots shut off the less-damaged engine after a bird strike.

::December 29, 2024

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The source added that the findings are backed by cockpit audio, flight data, and a physical engine switch recovered from the wreckage.

The source, who asked not to be named, said:

“The investigation team has clear evidence and backup data, so its finding will not change.”

Lawyers for the victims’ families said they objected to its publication on Saturday after being briefed on the report.

“There’s not enough explanation. In a way, it is like putting all the blame on the dead birds and the late pilots.”

The investigators, South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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::Lee Geun-young

The Boeing jet overshot Muan Airport’s runway on December 29 as it made an emergency landing and crashed into an embankment.

All but two of the 181 people on board were killed, making it South Korea’s deadliest air disaster.

The families and the Jeju Air pilots’ union said the probe should also examine the embankment, which experts believe added to the high death toll.

The union said the board was ‘misleading the public’ by suggesting the left engine was fine, since bird remains were found in both engines.

The union accused the investigators of making the pilots ‘scapegoats’.

Saying the board has been “silent about organizational responsibility.”

In a statement, the bereaved families took issue with how parts of the media release were worded and said all facts surrounding the incident must be clarified.

South Korean investigators have found clear evidence that pilots of the Jeju Air plane that crashed in December shut down the wrong engine after a bird strike, a source familiar with the probe said on Monday.

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The investigation, led by South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), has found that the left engine, which was less damaged, was shut off instead of the right engine, which had been more seriously affected by the bird strike.

The source told Reuters that cockpit voice recordings, computer data, and a physical engine switch recovered from the wreckage support this conclusion.

“The investigation team has clear evidence and backup data, so its finding will not change,” the source said, speaking anonymously as the official report has not yet been released.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operating a flight from Bangkok, crashed while attempting to land at Muan Airport on 29 December 2023. Of the 181 people on board, only two survived, making it the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil.

An examination of the recovered engines confirmed there were no defects before the bird strike and the crash, according to a government source.

Investigators reportedly shared these findings with the victims’ families during a private briefing on Saturday.

A third source, who was present at the meeting, said the families were told the right engine had suffered greater damage, but the left, less-damaged, engine was shut down instead.

The ARAIB has not officially commented on the findings. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, directed queries to ARAIB. Engine manufacturer CFM International, a joint venture between GE and France’s Safran, has not responded to requests for comment.

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Jeju Air said it is actively cooperating with the investigation and is awaiting the official release of the results.

While a preliminary report issued in January confirmed the presence of duck remains in both engines, it did not specify the extent of damage. A scheduled media briefing on Saturday was cancelled after victims’ families objected to the report being made public, saying it unfairly focused on pilot error and failed to consider other factors.

The Jeju Air flight overshot the runway during an emergency belly landing and crashed into an embankment containing navigation equipment. The collision caused a fire and a partial explosion, Reuters reported.

Victims’ families and the pilots’ union have urged the investigation team to also examine the embankment’s role in the severity of the crash. Aviation experts believe the structure may have contributed to the high death toll.

The pilots’ union has criticised ARAIB for “misleading the public” by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine, even though bird remains were found in both engines. The union accused the investigators of making the pilots scapegoats and not providing enough scientific evidence to prove the aircraft could have landed safely with just the left engine running.

The union also said the investigation has so far failed to address possible organisational responsibility. A group representing the bereaved families added that the language in the planned press release made it appear as if a final conclusion had already been reached. They have called for all facts surrounding the crash to be fully examined and clarified.

Under international aviation rules, a final accident report is expected within a year of the incident.

On December 29, 2024, we saw a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash land in Muan, South Korea, killing 179 of the 181 people onboard. This marked the the deadliest crash ever on South Korean soil, and at the time, the deadliest crash globally since 2018 (in the meantime, the Air India Boeing 787-8 crash took over that title).

As you’d expect, aviation accident investigations take some time, and authorities are starting to reveal more findings from their investigation. However, it seems that the union representing pilots, as well as families of the victims, aren’t happy with what’s being shared…

Jeju Air pilots reportedly shut down the wrong engine

As a reminder of the very basics of this accident, we know that the Jeju Air Boeing 737 suffered a bird strike while on approach to Muan, as that’s what pilots communicated to air traffic controllers. The plane seemed to completely lose power, as the gear couldn’t deploy, and the black box data is even missing for the last four minutes of the flight.

So in that sense, it’s impressive that the plane even managed to land on the runway. What made this so tragic and fatal is that there was a barrier at the end of the runway, which the plane crashed into, and then it caught fire, breaking the plane into two. That’s what contributed to the high fatality count, and the design of the barrier is now under serious scrutiny.

BREAKING: Video shows crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in South Korea. 181 people on board pic.twitter.com/9rQUC0Yxt8 — BNO News (@BNONews) December 29, 2024

However, what actually happened here? Why did the plane seemingly lose power in both engines? Was this like US Airways flight 1549, which landed in the Hudson River, where the birds took out both engines? Well, not quite, it seems…

South Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board has determined that there’s “clear evidence” that the pilots shut down the less damaged of the two engines following the bird strike.

The cockpit voice recorder, computer data, and physical engine switch found in the wreckage, showed that pilots had shut off the left engine instead of the right engine, while following emergency procedures after the bird strike. During the investigation, no defects were found with the aircraft or its engines.

Now, it’s not clear how well the left engine was working, and if it was working well enough to safely get the plane on the ground. However, investigators seem confident that it was the better functioning of the two engines.

Families & pilots aren’t happy with these findings

To be clear, investigators in South Korea haven’t yet issued their final report. Their plan was to hold a media briefing with updates about the investigation, but that ended up being canceled, after objections from families and representatives of the pilots union.

Families of the victims were reportedly briefed on the report ahead of its planned release, but objected to the publication, claiming that it appears to blame pilots, without exploring other contributing factors. The families claim the investigation needs to focus on the barrier, which may have contributed to the high death toll. Families also claim that the proposed report used some phrases that could be interpreted as a final conclusion having been reached.

The union representing pilots claims that investigators are “misleading the public” and “silent about organisational responsibility,” emphasizing that bird remains were found in both engines. The union states that investigators are trying to make the pilots the “scapegoats,” by not providing scientific or technological grounds to show that the plane could’ve landed with only the left engine turned on.

So this is a tricky situation, if you ask me:

I appreciate if investigators want to release an interim report with more details about what they know happened

That interim report isn’t a final report, so it also doesn’t preclude other factors, like the location of the barrier, which no doubt contributed to the death toll on this flight

It sounds like investigators are confident that the left engine was working better than the right engine, though it’s not clear if the engine was working well enough to solely power the aircraft, or what

One major challenge with aircraft accident investigations is that no matter what, some party (or parties) won’t be happy with the details provided. Sometimes it’s the union representing pilots, sometimes it’s the airline, sometimes it’s the aircraft manufacturer, and sometimes it’s the pilots.

As much as technology has improved, sometimes it feels like we’re regressing when it comes to learning from aircraft accidents. For example, China is refusing to reveal the cause of the deadly March 2022 Boeing 737 crash on “national security and social stability” grounds.

WATCH: Smoke rising after Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashes in South Korea pic.twitter.com/DtfTth9lRo — BNO News Live (@BNODesk) December 29, 2024

Bottom line

Investigators in South Korea have reportedly determined that the pilots of the Jeju Air Boeing 737 that crashed in late 2024 shut down the left engine following a bird strike, even though it was the engine that was working better.

While this definitely isn’t the only cause of this catastrophe, it certainly seems like a contributing factor, especially if the engine would’ve allowed the aircraft to keep its power and land safely.

Both the union representing pilots and the families of victims are objecting to the release of these findings, believing that there were more structural issues that caused this. So it seems that for now, investigators won’t release their reports.

What do you make of this Jeju Air Boeing 737 crash update?

Cockpit recordings, flight data and wreckage analysis show emergency protocols were misapplied. No pre-existing engine faults were found. Investigators shared findings with victims’ families in a private briefing.

South Korea’s probe into the December 29 Jeju Air crash , which killed 179 people, has found “clear evidence” the pilots mistakenly shut down the working left engine after a bird strike , instead of the more-damaged right one.

Duck remains were found in both engines. Jeju Air is cooperating, but Boeing and CFM remain silent. A final report is expected by June 2026. Meanwhile, grieving families are demanding answers—questioning how such a fatal error occurred and whether deeper systemic flaws were missed.

Only two survived, making it the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil.

On December 29, 2023, Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Muan Airport in South Korea. The Boeing 737-800 jet overran the runway, belly-landed at high speed, and collided with a concrete embankment, killing 179 of the 181 people on board.

Here’s a look at the tragic Jeju Air crash and why families are protesting the investigation’s findings:

What we know about Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea

Jeju Air crash leaves pet dog looking for a new family

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What triggered the emergency?

A severe bird strike occurred just before landing. Preliminary findings suggest that the right engine was critically damaged after colliding with birds—specifically ducks. Both engines were later found to contain bird remains.

Did the pilots shut down the wrong engine?

According to a Reuters report citing unnamed investigators, cockpit voice recordings and flight data show that the pilots shut down the left engine, which had sustained less damage. Investigators believe this misstep may have contributed to the crash.

The left engine’s shutdown also reportedly disabled the Integrated Drive Generator (IDG), a critical system that powers flight instruments, landing gear, and the black box recorders.

Why are the families and pilots’ union protesting?

Families of victims and the pilots’ union have strongly criticised the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) for appearing to place premature blame on pilot error. A scheduled press briefing was cancelled after families objected to language in the interim report that suggested final conclusions.

The union argues that the investigation:

Lacks transparency and crucial technical details.

Ignores systemic and airport infrastructure failures, including the presence of the concrete berm the plane struck.

Oversimplifies the accident as pilot error without presenting evidence that the plane could have landed safely on one engine.

What else are critics saying?

Families want full public release of flight recorder and engine data.

They claim the draft report “makes scapegoats” of the pilots and dead birds.

Legal representatives argue the findings prematurely absolve airport authorities and broader systemic failures.

What are investigators doing now?

ARAIB confirmed that both engines were sent to CFM International for further analysis. The investigation also includes support from:

US National Transportation Safety Board

US Federal Aviation Administration

France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety

Officials say more public hearings and input from victims’ families will be included before the final report is released in June 2026.

Why this matters

Most aviation disasters result from a combination of technical, human, and systemic errors. Critics say the current narrative risks overlooking vital factors — from cockpit confusion during high-pressure emergencies to airport infrastructure hazards — by pinning responsibility too early and too narrowly.

What’s next

Facing pressure from victims’ families and pilots’ union, ARAIB will expand its inquiry beyond pilot error to include infrastructure and systemic issues. The board plans public hearings, further consultations, and technical investigations with international experts. The final report is expected by June 2026, promising a thorough and transparent account.