Families sue Boeing after Jeju Air crash cites outdated systems

Charles Herrmann, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said: "Rather than admitting its fault in this tragic accident, Boeing resorts to its old, worn out 'blame the pilots' tactic. These pilots make easy targets; they perished in the flames with the passengers. They cannot defend themselves.”

The preliminary crash report indicated that both engines failed after ingesting birds during the approach to Muan International Airport. DNA tests confirmed the presence of Baikal teal, a duck species common in East Asia, in both engines. The interim report issued in July 2025 stated that pilot error may have contributed, with a mistaken engine shutdown following the bird strike.

According to investigators, the flight crew saw a flock of birds during their approach and declared a mayday after initiating a go-around. Security footage showed the aircraft passing close to birds during this maneuver.

The Herrmann Law Group argues that both engines should have withstood the bird strike, citing U.S. regulations requiring engines to tolerate ingestion of up to four one-pound birds without thrust dropping below 75%. The lawsuit claims that system failures following the bird strike—including failure of the landing gear, reverse thrusters, flaps, slats, spoilers, and simultaneous loss of flight recorders and transponder—were due to outdated systems.

Herrmann stated that "although these seasoned pilots managed to fly the aircraft back to the runway, the failure of all these systems combined to deny them the means to land safely." The firm added: "they landed 1,200 meters down the 2,600-meter runway at 175 mph: too far and too fast. Sliding on its belly, the aircraft overran the end of the runway to strike a concrete-reinforced berm built to support Instrument Landing System antennas.”