Investigators examining the Jeju Air crash in South Korea that claimed 179 lives announced on Wednesday that one of the recovered black boxes will be sent to the United States for analysis.
South Korea is grappling with its deadliest aviation disaster as investigators probe the Jeju Air crash that killed 179 people. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers from Bangkok to Muan airport, issued a mayday call before belly-landing and colliding with a concrete barrier, bursting into flames.Only two flight attendants survived, pulled from the wreckage by emergency responders.
According to an AFP report, the authorities have retrieved both black boxes, but the flight data recorder was too damaged for analysis in South Korea. Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan confirmed it would be sent to the United States for examination, in collaboration with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The cockpit voice recorder’s initial data has been extracted and will soon provide insights into the pilots’ final moments.
Initial findings suggest landing gear failure and a possible bird strike, but a navigation system’s role is also under scrutiny. The navigation aid, installed on a concrete barrier that the aircraft struck, may have worsened the crash. Investigators, including Boeing representatives, are inspecting other Boeing 737-800 models operated locally to identify potential mechanical issues, writes AFP.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok assured the public that investigators are conducting a thorough probe. “We will uncover the cause through a detailed analysis of the black box and aircraft structure,” he said.
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