South Korean airports ordered to install bird detection technology
February 6, 2025
Following confirmation that investigators had found evidence of bird strike on the Jeju Airlines incident at the end of last year, all airports in South Korea have been ordered to install bird detection cameras and thermal imaging radars.
The installation is set to happen in 2026 with the procurement process taking place this year. It follows confirmation from investigators last week that they had found evidence of a bird strike on the Jeju Airlines Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which crashed in December last year, killing 179 people. The incident was the country’s deadliest aviation disaster.
“Bird detection radars will be installed at all airports to enhance ready detection of distant birds and improve response capabilities for aircraft,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Land in a statement on Thursday 6 February.
All cameras will need to be equipped with at least one thermal imaging camera and sites that attract birds, such as rubbish dumps must also be moved away from airports.
The investigation into the incident is still ongoing with air safety experts indicating that the number of casualties could have been mitigated if it weren’t for the concrete structure at the end of the runway that the plane crashed into after making an emergency landing without its landing gear deployed. Authorities are considering alternative solutions, including the replacement of concrete bases with lighter materials or relocating the systems underground.
Last month and following a review of all airports in the country, it was announced that seven airports would have their runway safety areas assessed to overhaul concrete barriers used for navigation.
