A preliminary investigation into the Jeju Air crash on December 29, which claimed 179 lives, has revealed bird feathers and bloodstains in both engines.

The Boeing 737-800 was en route from Thailand to Muan, South Korea, when it belly-landed, struck a concrete barrier, and erupted into flames. The tragic accident, which occurred during a failed landing attempt, is now the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korean history.

South Korean and U.S. aviation experts are examining possible causes, including a bird strike, defective landing gear, and the controversial runway barrier.

Inspection of the recovered engines confirmed the presence of bird blood and feathers. DNA analysis identified the birds as Baikal teals, a migratory species that migrated to Korea in the winter after breeding in Siberia.

The report noted that security footage, registered as HL8088, captured the plane nearing a flock of birds during a go-around. However, it is unclear if the engines failed before the crash.

Tragically, both the captain, with 6,800 flight hours, and the first officer, with 1,650 hours, perished, leaving only two surviving flight attendants. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder malfunctioned four minutes before the crash, creating a critical data gap. The cause of this technical failure remains undetermined.

Authorities are facing scrutiny over the use of concrete barriers at the runway’s end, which contributed to the explosion. In response, officials announced plans to replace such structures nationwide with breakable alternatives to improve safety.