South Korean investigators say they’ve found solid proof that the pilots involved in the deadly Jeju Air crash on December 29 mistakenly turned off the functional left engine instead of the damaged right one after a bird strike. The crash killed 179 people.
Analysis of cockpit voice recordings, flight data, and the aircraft wreckage confirmed that emergency procedures were not followed properly. Investigators said there were no pre-existing technical faults in either engine. Families of the victims were briefed privately on the findings.
➡️ Related: South Korea says black boxes on the Jeju Air jet stopped recording before the crash.
Remains of ducks were discovered in both engines, confirming the bird strike. Jeju Air is cooperating with authorities, but Boeing and engine manufacturer CFM have not publicly responded yet. A full investigation report is expected by June 2026.
Meanwhile, grieving families are pushing back — demanding accountability and questioning how such a critical mistake was allowed to happen. They also want to know if this tragedy reflects deeper issues within airline safety systems.
