Jeju Air Crash: What The Missing Black Box Data Reveals About The 737-800 Tragedy

South Korean investigators have revealed that the black boxes of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, which crashed last month killing 179 people, stopped recording approximately four minutes before the accident. The transport ministry made the announcement on Saturday, raising further questions about the exact cause of the disaster.

Photo Credit: PTI

Unresolved Mystery: Missing Black Box Data

The crash, which remains under investigation, occurred on December 29 when Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan, South Korea, attempted to land but overshot the runway, belly-landing and exploding into flames after hitting an embankment. Only two crew members seated in the tail section survived.

Investigators had initially pinned their hopes on the flight data and cockpit voice recorders to determine the cause of the crash. However, both devices stopped recording crucial moments before impact. Authorities are now analyzing why the black boxes failed, as this is an unusual occurrence that could indicate a complete power failure, including backup systems.

Possible Causes Under Review

Authorities had previously cited several potential factors contributing to the crash, including:

• A reported bird strike, which the pilot mentioned just minutes before the accident.
• Issues with the landing gear.
• The rigid construction of the embankment at the end of the runway, which the aircraft collided with.
• Two minutes before the pilots issued a Mayday emergency call, air traffic control had warned of "bird activity" in the area, adding to speculation about the role of a bird strike in the crash.

International Assistance in Investigation

Following the discovery of missing data, the cockpit voice recorder was sent to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for further analysis. Investigators are working to reconstruct the sequence of events using available data and other aircraft system logs.

Sim Jai-dong, a former transport ministry accident investigator, expressed concern over the missing black box recordings, stating that a complete power failure is rare and requires detailed scrutiny.

Families Demand Transparency

The transport ministry has assured that the investigation will be thorough and transparent, with findings shared with the victims' families. However, some family members have voiced concerns about the ministry leading the probe, calling for independent experts, including specialists recommended by them, to be involved in the investigation.

Focus on Runway Embankment

Another key focus of the investigation is the embankment the aircraft crashed into. It was designed to support a "localizer" system that assists with aircraft landings. Authorities are examining why the structure was built so close to the runway and whether its composition contributed to the severity of the crash.

With unanswered questions surrounding the final moments of Flight 7C2216, investigators continue their efforts to piece together the circumstances that led to South Korea's deadliest aviation disaster in recent history.