Lessons from the Jeju Air Flight 2216 Crash: From Misinformation to Ground Truth
Originally framed by suspicion, now clarified by data.

In December 2024, Jeju Air Flight 2216 tragically crashed near Daegu, South Korea, claiming 29 lives. Early theories pointed to possible GPS jamming or electronic interference—some even speculated Russian electronic warfare involvement.

However, the preliminary report released by South Korea’s ARAIB in July 2025 tells a different story—one grounded in cockpit error and human factors.

✅ What really happened?
Following a bird strike shortly after takeoff, the flight crew mistakenly shut down the less-damaged engine, keeping the more-damaged one running—a misjudgment eerily similar to the 1989 Kegworth disaster. When the second engine failed, the aircraft was left without thrust, leading to a fatal crash during emergency descent.

🔍 Key findings:

No GPS spoofing or jamming was detected on the FDR

Bird remains were recovered and identified from both engines

Crew training gaps and engine misidentification were central factors

Families are calling for changes to runway overrun design standards

🎯 Why this matters:
This incident is a sobering reminder of how early speculation can distract from root causes—and how data, not assumptions, must drive safety reform. It also underscores the need for continued investment in:

Pilot decision-making training under stress

Engine-out diagnostics and system alerts

Modern runway safety infrastructure

The final report is expected by June 2026.

Let’s learn from this—not just to improve systems, but to better support the people behind the controls.