Bird DNA found on South Korean plane that crashed

Seoul, Jan 28, (dpa/GNA) – Both engines of a plane that crashed in South Korea in late December, killing 179 people, show traces of a bird strike,

according to a preliminary investigation report released on Monday.

South Korean investigators said feathers and blood stains belonging to the baikal teal species, were found on the engines. The migratory duck is mainly

found in Siberia but overwinters in East Asia.

The pilots had reported a bird strike shortly before the crash landing at Muan International Airport in Jeolla province, about 288 kilometres south-west

of Seoul.

The preliminary report said both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, stopped recording about four minutes before the fatal impact. The

exact reason for this was not yet known.

In December, the Boeing 737-800 skidded along a runway, smashed into a concrete wall and caught fire.

It was carrying 181 people, 179 of whom were killed. The two survivors were both crew members. Apart from two Thai nationals, all aboard were Korean

citizens.

Investigators said in the next phase of the investigation, the plane’s engines will be dismantled and the individual components thoroughly examined.

GNA