Evidence of a bird strike has reportedly been found in the Jeju Air plane that crashed into a wall at a South Korean airport, killing 179 people.
A preliminary report published on Monday, Jan. 27, said feathers and blood stains were found in both engines of the Boeing 737-800 that crashed at Muan International Airport airport on Dec. 29, according to CNN and the BBC.
The report said a flock of Baikal teal, a migratory bird commonly found in East Asia, is believed to have been involved in the crash, Fox News reported.
Additionally, the report confirmed that flight data and cockpit voice recorders stopped working prior to the crash and that the final four minutes of the recordings are missing, according to ABC News.
Shortly before the end of the recording, air traffic control warned the airplane to be “cautious of bird activity,” the outlet reported.
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The report said the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) intends to “tear down the engines” and examine the components “in depth.”
“These all-out investigation activities aim to determine the accurate cause of the accident,” the report added, according to CNN and ABC News.
It was the deadliest air crash in South Korean history. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae said the aircraft “caught fire while landing” at the airport.
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What Happened in Final Minutes Before South Korean Plane Crash Disaster: Do They Hold the Key to What Went Wrong?
All but two of the individuals onboard Jeju Air flight 7C2216 were killed in the collision. The two survivors were flight attendants, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
According to The Guardian, the duo was rescued with “mid to severe” injuries from the tail section of the wreckage.
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Families Cry and Demand Answers as They Learn Loved Ones Are Among 179 Victims Killed in South Korea Crash
The ages of the 179 victims killed in the crash ranged from 3 to 78, though most of the victims were in their 40s, 50s and 60s, according to a previous report from BBC News.
Authorities said a 3-year-old boy was among those killed in the crash, CNN previously reported.
