By Solomon Kazim, with agency reports
There have been increasing concerns about air travel safety as over 200 persons have died in two air crashes in Kazakhstan and South Korea since Christmas Day morning.
Earlier on December 29, 2024, a Jeju Air Flight 2216 (Boeing 737-800) carrying 181 individuals (175 passengers and six crew members), crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
One hundred and seven-six of the 181 aboard the aircraft are reported dead.
On Christmas day, 38 of 67 persons aboard were killed in an Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, which was flying from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny in the Russian region of Chechnya.
The aircraft made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) from Aktau, the carrier said.
Reports later revealed that the airline was shot down by a Russian air defence system, leading to a public apology by President Vladimir Putin, who refused to apologise for the fatal incident.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Jeju Air Flight 2216 skidded off the runway and collided with a concrete barrier, igniting a severe fire, which led to the death of 176 passengers and crew members, with only two survivors reported.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a bird strike may have caused a malfunction in the landing gear, leading to the crash. The black box has been recovered, and authorities are analysing the data to determine the exact cause of the accident.
In response to the disaster, South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has declared the region a special disaster zone and pledged full support for the victims’ families. This incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea since the 2002 Air China Flight 129 crash.
Meanwhile, Jeju Air has expressed deep condolences and commitment to cooperating fully with the investigation to prevent future tragedies.
The crash has raised concerns about aviation safety standards in the country, prompting calls for comprehensive reviews and improvements.
As the investigation continues, more information will emerge regarding the factors that led to this catastrophic event.
On December 28, 2024, Air Canada Flight 2259, operated by PAL Airlines using a De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, made an emergency landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport due to a landing gear malfunction.
The flight, originating from St. John’s, Newfoundland, experienced issues with its landing gear upon arrival in Halifax. The aircraft’s left main landing gear collapsed during the landing, causing the plane to skid along the runway and catch fire.
All 77 occupants were safely evacuated to a nearby hangar, and no serious injuries were reported. The airport was temporarily closed, leading to several flights being diverted to nearby airports.
This incident follows a series of landing gear-related accidents involving the Dash 8 series aircraft. Notably, in 2007, Scandinavian Airlines experienced multiple landing gear failures with their Dash 8-Q400 fleet, leading to the eventual withdrawal of the aircraft type from their operations.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the malfunction and to recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Major Crashes involving Boeing 737-800
Flydubai Flight 981 (2016)
Location: Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Casualties: 62 fatalities (all onboard)
Cause: The aircraft crashed during a second attempt to land in poor weather conditions, exacerbated by pilot error.
Air India Express Flight 1344 (2020)
Location: Kozhikode, India
Casualties: 21 fatalities (including both pilots)
Cause: The aircraft overshot the runway during landing in heavy rain and broke apart.
Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (2020)
Location: Near Tehran, Iran
Casualties: 176 fatalities (all onboard)
Cause: Shot down by two surface-to-air missiles launched by Iranian forces, a tragic case of mistaken identity during military tensions.
Pegasus Airlines Flight 2193 (2020)
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Casualties: 3 fatalities; 179 injuries
Cause: The aircraft skidded off the runway during landing in adverse weather conditions.
China Eastern Airlines Flight MU5735 (2022)
Location: Guangxi, China
Casualties: 132 fatalities (all onboard)
Cause: The aircraft entered a steep, high-speed descent. Investigations suggested intentional actions by the flight crew or other individuals onboard.
