This photo shows flames emerging from the right engine of the Jeju Air plane (circled in red) as it approached Muan International Airport prior to landing. Yonhap

A suspected bird strike, identified as one of the causes of the Jeju Air crash last Sunday, has raised concerns about the adequacy of bird control operations at Muan International Airport. At the time of the incident, only one Bird Alert Team (BAT), commonly referred to as "Batman," was on duty, prompting questions about whether staffing levels and operational protocols were sufficient.

BAT units typically use firearms and other deterrents to drive birds away from airport grounds and communicate directly with the control tower when bird flocks are spotted.

According to sources compiled by the Hankook Ilbo, only one BAT member was working during the suspected bird strike, which likely occurred between 8:57 a.m. and 8:59 a.m. This contradicts earlier statements by the government's Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, which said two members were present that day.

The discrepancy may stem from the airport's staffing structure. Muan airport's BAT operates with a team of four members divided into two shifts: two on duty during the day (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and one at night (6 p.m. to 9 a.m.).

As the incident occurred just before the morning shift began, the lone staff member on duty may have been delayed in identifying the situation due to shift change procedures. When asked, an airport official confirmed that only one BAT member was active during the bird strike.

Bird strike incidents

Muan airport's BAT workforce has long been smaller compared to similar-sized airports. For instance, Cheongju and Daegu airports, major hubs in central and southeastern Korea, respectively, each have eight BAT members, twice the number at Muan.

Among the 14 airports managed by Korea Airports Corporation (excluding Incheon International Airport), only four airports, all with no international routes except for Yangyang, have fewer BAT members than Muan.

Even as bird strikes increased nationally from 91 cases in 2019 to 130 last year, Muan was excluded from plans to boost BAT staffing.

Korea Airports Corporation plans to deploy 43 additional BAT members across seven airports by mid-2025, but Muan is not included because of its relatively low bird strike frequency — 10 cases from 2019 to August 2024.

Police forensic investigators conduct an on-site investigation at the Jeju Air crash site at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Tuesday. Yonhap

However, Muan has the highest bird strike rate nationwide, with 0.09 percent of its 11,004 flights during that period experiencing incidents.

As the recent crash highlights, a single bird strike can lead to devastating consequences. Most domestic airports are located near migratory bird habitats, making them vulnerable to such incidents. Experts emphasize the importance of securing adequate staffing and adopting advanced technologies like bird detection radar systems.

"This crash underscores the critical need for more bird control personnel," said a researcher involved in national aviation studies. "We also need to consider introducing radar systems to detect bird activity proactively."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.