South Korea Sends Damaged Black Box to US for Crash Investigation

Wednesday 01 January 2025 - 16:35

South Korea is investigating the tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which occurred on Sunday, killing 179 people in the nation’s worst aviation disaster. The Boeing 737-800, which was carrying 181 passengers from Thailand to South Korea, issued a mayday call before belly-landing and crashing into a concrete barrier at Muan Airport. Flames erupted, claiming all lives aboard except for two flight attendants who survived after being pulled from the burning wreckage.

The crash prompted an extensive investigation by both South Korean and US authorities, including officials from Boeing. On Wednesday, South Korea's deputy minister for civil aviation, Joo Jong-wan, confirmed that one of the black boxes would be sent to the United States for analysis by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The flight data recorder was damaged beyond repair, and data could not be recovered locally. However, the cockpit voice recorder was retrieved, and initial data extraction revealed crucial communication, which will aid the investigation.

While officials initially suggested a bird strike might have contributed to the disaster, the investigation is now also focused on a concrete barrier at the end of the runway, which dramatic video footage showed the plane colliding with before bursting into flames. Furthermore, investigators are conducting a special inspection of all Boeing 737-800 models operated by South Korean carriers, examining the landing gear for potential mechanical failure. This follows reports that the landing gear failed to deploy correctly during the aircraft's second landing attempt at Muan Airport.

In the aftermath, hundreds of mourners gathered at a memorial altar at Muan Airport to honor the victims. Due to the overwhelming number of people, the local network was overloaded, and authorities redirected mourners to alternative memorial sites. Relatives, many of whom were unable to eat due to the stress, have been receiving medical care, including IV drips.

The investigation continues as officials await further analysis of the black box data and aircraft structure to determine the precise cause of the accident. The US NTSB has been involved since the beginning of the probe, with an initial focus on a navigation system known as a localizer, which aids in aircraft landings. This system, installed on a concrete structure at Muan Airport, has been scrutinized due to its potential role in worsening the severity of the crash.

The victims, predominantly South Korean nationals, were mostly holidaymakers returning from year-end trips. With the identification process now complete, the bodies of the deceased have been handed over to relatives, allowing them to proceed with funeral arrangements.

South Korean authorities, alongside international investigators, are determined to uncover the full details of this heartbreaking tragedy to prevent future occurrences and bring closure to the victims’ families.