Jeju Air Crash: South Korea Sends Damaged Black Box To US For Critical Analysis

Jeju Air Crash: South Korea will send a damaged black box from the tragic Jeju Air crash to the United States for detailed analysis, officials said on Wednesday. The crash, which claimed 179 lives, is now the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korean history, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Jeju Air Crash: The Incident

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea, issued a mayday call before attempting an emergency landing at Muan International Airport on Sunday. The plane belly-landed, struck a concrete barrier, and burst into flames. Only two flight attendants survived, pulled from the burning wreckage.

Jeju Air Crash: Investigation Efforts

South Korean and U.S. investigators, including experts from Boeing, are examining the crash site in Muan. Joo Jong-wan, South Korea's Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation, stated that while the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) has been partially analyzed, the flight data recorder (FDR) sustained significant damage, as per US Media reports.

"The flight data recorder cannot be analyzed domestically due to a missing connector. We will collaborate with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for further examination," Joo said.

Possible Causes

Initial investigations suggested a bird strike, but new evidence points to the plane's collision with a concrete navigation barrier at the runway's end. Additionally, mechanical failure in the landing gear is under scrutiny, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Reports indicate that the landing gear deployed properly during the first failed landing attempt but malfunctioned during the second. South Korea has launched special inspections of all Boeing 737-800 models operated by local airlines, focusing on landing gear functionality.

Mourning the Victims

A memorial at Muan airport has drawn massive crowds, overwhelming local facilities and cellphone networks. To manage the turnout, authorities set up additional memorial sites nationwide.

Inside the airport, medical stations are providing IV drips to grieving family members, many of whom have been unable to eat due to the stress. Officials reported that the victims' bodies were severely damaged, complicating identification efforts. However, the identification process has now been completed, and remains are being handed over to families for funerals, as per media reports.

Collaborative Investigation

The NTSB and Boeing are jointly investigating the crash, with particular focus on the plane's structural integrity, black box data, and the role of the localiser-a navigation system installed on the concrete barrier implicated in the crash.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok assured the public that the investigation would uncover the root causes of the disaster. "A comprehensive analysis will shed light on this tragedy and help prevent future occurrences," Choi stated.

Final Moments of the Flight

The doomed flight largely carried South Korean holidaymakers returning from Bangkok, with only two Thai nationals among the passengers. Dramatic video footage revealed the aircraft's final moments as it collided with the barrier before bursting into flames.

As investigations continue, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of aviation safety measures and meticulous maintenance protocols.