Jeju Air Crash: According to South Korean authorities, recordings from both black boxes stopped approximately four minutes before the aircraft collided with a localizer structure. The Jeju Air passenger plane, involved in the fatal crash last month, has been found to lack data from the final minutes before the explosion. This Is A Google Discover Content.
Investigative authorities revealed that US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) analysis of the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the B737-800 showed recordings ceased around 8:59 a.m., about four minutes before the aircraft struck a concrete mound housing localizer equipment at the end of Muan International Airport.
The crash occurred at 9:03 a.m. on December 29, 2024, as Jeju Air Flight collided with the localizer equipment, skidding without its landing gear deployed. This gap in data makes it challenging for authorities to fully understand the final moments of the flight. Despite the missing information, authorities emphasized that FDR and CVR data are essential, but not the only sources of evidence in an investigation.
“The investigation includes various information sources, such as air traffic control records, video footage of the crash, and debris from the scene,” authorities said. The black box components were sent to the NTSB in Washington for further cross-verification.
Additionally, South Korean investigators are scheduled to return to Korea to continue their probe. As of January 7, the South Korean government announced the exclusion of former and current senior officials from the investigation to avoid conflicts of interest. Transport Minister Park Sang-woo confirmed that these figures, including Chang Man-hee, Chairman of the Board, and Joo Jong-wan, Head of the Ministry’s Aviation Policy Office, would be excluded from participating.
“We will ensure fairness by adhering to international norms and domestic laws during the investigation,” Park said. The transcription of the cockpit voice recorder has been completed, and the flight data recorder was transported to the U.S. for further analysis.
