Jeju Air crash: Black box data lost as probe into South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster deepens
This is South Korea’s deadliest aviation accident to date.
KATHMANDU: South Korea’s Ministry of Transport has revealed that the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the crashed Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 stopped recording four minutes before the accident.
On Dec 29, the aircraft was en route from Thailand to Muan, South Korea, when it crashed into a cement barrier during landing.
Sadly, 179 passengers lost their lives, with only two survivors rescued.
This is South Korea’s deadliest aviation accident to date.
“Analysis shows that both the CVR and FDR ceased recording four minutes prior to the crash,” stated the Ministry of Transport in a press release.
Preliminary investigations have attributed the severity of the crash to a malfunction in the radio transmitter (localizer) used for assisting or performing blind landings.
Damaged flight data recorders were deemed irretrievable by South Korean officials and were sent to the United States for analysis at the National Transportation Safety Board’s laboratory.
Authorities are now investigating why and how the recorders stopped functioning. “Efforts are underway to determine the cause of the missing data as part of the ongoing crash investigation,” the ministry said.
Both South Korean and U.S. investigators are still working to uncover the cause of the crash. The Ministry emphasized the critical role of the black boxes in the investigation, pledging to exhaust all resources to find the answers.
“Various data will be analyzed and tested. The committee remains committed to uncovering the cause of the accident,” read the ministry’s statement.
Investigators have pointed to potential issues such as bird strikes, faulty landing gear, and runway obstructions. The pilot reportedly warned of a possible bird strike during the first landing attempt. On the second attempt, the landing gear malfunctioned.
Lead investigator Lee Seung-Yeol confirmed earlier this week that feathers were found in one of the aircraft’s engines at the crash site, supporting the bird strike theory.
Authorities have conducted raids on Muan Airport, the regional aviation office, and Jeju Air’s headquarters in Seoul. They have also barred Jeju Air’s CEO from leaving the country as part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have formed a joint task force to oversee the investigation. Transport Minister Park Sang-Woo resigned this week, taking responsibility for the tragedy.
“In my role as Minister responsible for aviation safety, I feel immense accountability for this tragedy and have stepped down to ensure an independent investigation,” Park announced.
