The South Korean transport ministry faces challenges in piecing together events leading to the tragic crash of Jeju Air flight, which resulted in 179 fatalities.
Missing Final Four Minutes: Investigators Scramble for Answers in South Korean Air Disaster
Missing Final Four Minutes: Investigators Scramble for Answers in South Korean Air Disaster
Investigation efforts face a setback as crucial flight data remains unrecorded.
The cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders from the Jeju Air plane that crashed last month have reportedly stopped capturing data just four minutes before the accident, according to statements from South Korea's transportation authorities. This disaster on December 29 at Muan International Airport resulted in the deaths of 179 individuals, marking it as the deadliest air crash in the nation's history, with only two cabin crew members surviving the incident.
Authorities had hoped the recordings would illuminate the sequence of events leading up to the crash. However, the transportation ministry's announcement that the "black boxes" ceased functioning so abruptly leaves many questions unanswered. Investigators are now examining the reasons why the recording devices stopped, which may indicate a total power failure, including the loss of any back-up systems.
Initial inquiries revealed that the recorders were first examined in South Korea. Following the discovery of the missing data, they were sent to the United States for further analysis by American aviation safety experts. The Boeing 737-800 was en route from Bangkok and made an unexpected landing at only a third of the runway, failing to deploy its landing gear and ultimately crashing into a wall which led to its subsequent fire.
The investigation is now also focusing on whether external factors such as bird strikes or adverse weather contributed to the crash. Sim Jai-dong, a former investigator at the transport ministry, expressed surprise at the data loss, indicating it could suggest a catastrophic failure of systems just before the crash.
As authorities continue to dissect the wreckage and gather information, loved ones of the victims are growing increasingly impatient for answers, lamenting the uncertainty surrounding their loss amidst cries for transparent communication and accountability from aviation authorities.
Authorities had hoped the recordings would illuminate the sequence of events leading up to the crash. However, the transportation ministry's announcement that the "black boxes" ceased functioning so abruptly leaves many questions unanswered. Investigators are now examining the reasons why the recording devices stopped, which may indicate a total power failure, including the loss of any back-up systems.
Initial inquiries revealed that the recorders were first examined in South Korea. Following the discovery of the missing data, they were sent to the United States for further analysis by American aviation safety experts. The Boeing 737-800 was en route from Bangkok and made an unexpected landing at only a third of the runway, failing to deploy its landing gear and ultimately crashing into a wall which led to its subsequent fire.
The investigation is now also focusing on whether external factors such as bird strikes or adverse weather contributed to the crash. Sim Jai-dong, a former investigator at the transport ministry, expressed surprise at the data loss, indicating it could suggest a catastrophic failure of systems just before the crash.
As authorities continue to dissect the wreckage and gather information, loved ones of the victims are growing increasingly impatient for answers, lamenting the uncertainty surrounding their loss amidst cries for transparent communication and accountability from aviation authorities.
