The source said that the evidence was not only the engine switch found in the rubble but also the black box, the cockpit recording and computer data.
Everything shows that the pilots turned off the left engine instead of the right engine when taking emergency steps after the bird collided just before the plane was scheduled to land.
The source affirmed that the results of this investigation will not change because the investigation team has sufficient clear evidence as well as backup data, but it is still unclear when this information will be officially announced.
The investigation results were leaked amid a government source confirming that no technical errors had been detected in the plane before the incident.
The December 29, 2024 crash of a Boeing 737-800 at Muan Airport killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew members, making it the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil.
At a press conference on July 19, the victim's family was informed that the right engine was more severely damaged because after colliding with the bird, and there was indirect evidence that the pilot had turned off the left engine and suffered less damage.
The Korea Airlines and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), the unit leading the investigation, has not responded after a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Jeju Air said it is actively collaborating with the ARAIB investigation and is awaiting an official announcement of the results.
Most air crashes are caused by many factors, and according to international rules, the final report is expected to be published within 1 year of the accident.
A preliminary report published in January said that the body of the duck was found in both engines of the Jeju Air plane after a flight from Bangkok crashed at Muan Airport, but did not provide details on the specific severity or damage found in each engine.
