South Korea Reveals Jeju Air Flight’s Black Boxes Stopped Recording Just Before Disaster
The worst aviation disaster in South Korean history unfolded on December 29, 2024, when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed and exploded in a fiery ball of flames at Muan International Airport, killing 179 people. The flight, which had departed from Bangkok, Thailand, carried 181 passengers and crew members when it tragically belly-landed on the runway and collided with a concrete barrier.
Dramatic footage of the crash, which sent plumes of smoke billowing into the sky, quickly circulated globally, leaving the nation in shock. Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene immediately, working tirelessly to save survivors as the fire raged.
As investigators continue their probe into the causes of the crash, new details have emerged about the flight’s final moments. South Korea’s transport ministry revealed on Saturday that the black boxes from the aircraft – crucial to understanding the disaster – stopped recording just four minutes before the crash occurred. These recorders, which include the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), were damaged in the fiery aftermath, and authorities confirmed that the data was unrecoverable.
“Analysis revealed that both the CVR and FDR did not record during the final moments leading up to the collision with the localizer,” the ministry stated. The localizer, a runway barrier designed to guide aircraft during landings, was blamed for worsening the crash’s impact.
Also Read: Tragedy in South Korea: Plane Crash Leaves 179 Feared Dead
The damaged black boxes were sent to the United States for further examination by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Despite the data loss, authorities remain determined to uncover the cause of the tragedy. “Plans are in place to investigate the cause of the data loss,” the ministry affirmed.
Investigators have been exploring several potential factors that may have contributed to the disaster. A bird strike was reported just before the aircraft’s first landing attempt, with feathers found in one of the recovered engines. However, experts have cautioned that bird strikes do not usually lead to immediate engine failure. Additionally, the plane’s landing gear reportedly failed to deploy during the second attempt, leaving the aircraft unable to land safely.
Jeju Air, the low-cost carrier responsible for the flight, has come under intense scrutiny. South Korean authorities have raided offices at Muan airport, a regional aviation office, and Jeju Air’s headquarters in Seoul. The airline’s CEO has been barred from leaving the country as investigators continue their work.
The crash has sparked an outpouring of grief across South Korea, with memorials springing up in honor of the victims. In response to the disaster, South Korea’s Minister of Transport, Park Sang-woo, offered his resignation, acknowledging the heavy responsibility he bore for the country’s aviation safety.
“As the minister responsible for aviation safety, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility regarding this tragedy,” Park said in a statement earlier this week.
Meanwhile, a joint task force made up of rival political parties has been formed to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash, with the goal of preventing future tragedies.
