Airplane crashes have made headlines worldwide in recent weeks with two tragedies in Russia and South Korea; they serve as heartbreaking reminders of the devastating impact of aviation accidents, leaving families and communities in mourning.
On December 25, 2024, a passenger jet sent from Baku, Azerbaijan was mistaken for a Ukrainian combat drone in heavy fog and was shot down by Russian defense systems. The plane, Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243, then crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people onboard (CNN).
When investigated, authorities revealed that the aircraft was already experiencing control issues and was being diverted when the accident occurred. During the diversion to Akatu, Kazakhstan, an oxygen tank exploded in the cabin, which caused passengers to lose consciousness. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized as he mentioned, “the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace,” but avoided admitting any fault in the situation (CNN).
In South Korea, another devastating crash occurred just four days later. The plane crash of Jeju Airlines Flight 7C2216 was caused by something more unpredictable: a bird strike.
The plane was returning from Bangkok, Thailand. As it was landing at South Korea’s Muan International Airport on December 29, 2024, it struck a flock of birds that got caught in the engine. The pilot then aborted the original landing and requested to land in the opposite direction. When it made contact with the ground, it was already halfway down the runway and was unable to use its wheels or any landing gear. It then skidded and crashed into a concrete wall before bursting into flames, killing 179 people aboard (BBC). It marked one of the worst plane crashes in Korea’s history.
History teacher Mr. Vandermolen comments that “The bird strikes are terrifying because that’s something out of our control.” He mentions that this isn’t the first time something like this has happened in history. He referenced the Miracle on the Hudson, in which a bird strike caused pilot “Sully” to land on the Hudson River. All of the passengers in that case had survived, as they often do when bird strikes occur. However, only two out of the 181 people on board–including passengers and the crew–survived.
Videos show families in the airport huddled together, sobbing over the loss of their loved ones. Sophomore Yuwon Choi says, “It’s very heartbreaking to see the relatives of the victims. They stayed in the airport for hours, grieving the relatives and loved ones that they lost. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose a loved one so suddenly.”
Many Korean celebrities posted messages expressing their condolences for anybody struggling with the devastating impact of this crash. Some have donated money to the victims, and many K-pop idols wore black in their performances during music festivals following the tragedy. Some went so far as to cancel planned activities to honor the victims (Forbes).
Both crashes are tragic reminders of the potential risks of flying and call leaders to action to ensure the safety of their passengers. After hearing of these crashes, many are fearful and hesitant to fly. However, it is important to remember that bird strikes and mistaken attacks on aircraft are uncommon, and these are rare cases of the worst possible outcomes.
Keeping this in mind, we should continue to honor the victims of both crashes and hold their families in our thoughts through this time of mourning.
