The black boxes on Jeju Air flight 2216 stopped recording four minutes before the crash that killed 179 people, South Korea’s transport ministry revealed on Saturday. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers and crew, was en route from Thailand to Muan, South Korea, on December 29. It belly-landed at Muan airport and exploded after hitting a concrete barrier.
“The analysis revealed that both the CVR and FDR data were not recorded during the four minutes leading up to the aircraft’s collision with the localiser,” the transport ministry said. The localizer, a structure designed to assist aircraft landings, worsened the crash’s impact.
Ongoing Investigation Into Data Loss and Crash Causes
Investigators are working to determine why the black boxes failed during the critical moments before the crash. South Korean and US experts are jointly probing the accident with memorials set up to honor the victims. This crash has triggered nationwide mourning,
Preliminary findings suggest multiple possible causes, including a bird strike, malfunctioning landing gear, and the role of the runway barrier. The pilot had reported a bird strike and aborted the first landing attempt. On the second attempt, the landing gear failed to deploy, leading to the crash.
“Plans are in place to investigate the cause of the data loss during the ongoing accident investigation,” the transport ministry added in its statement.
This week, lead investigator Lee Seung-yeol told reporters that “feathers were found” in one of the plane’s recovered engines, but cautioned a bird strike does not lead to an immediate engine failure.
National Mourning and Safety Concerns
The tragedy has prompted widespread grief in South Korea and renewed calls for stricter aviation safety measures. Investigators aim to uncover the full sequence of events that led to the crash and prevent future incidents. As the investigation unfolds, the nation remains focused on supporting the victims’ families and understanding the factors behind this devastating accident.
