By Choe Sang-Hun
South Korean authorities reported on Saturday that the flight recorder of the Jeju Air passenger aircraft, which tragically crashed last month and resulted in the deaths of 179 individuals, ceased recording during its final four minutes. This presents a notable challenge for investigators.
The information retrieved from the so-called black box, which includes both the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, is typically vital for examining aviation incidents. South Korean officials, collaborating with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, emphasized that the flight data from the aircraft’s last four minutes would be particularly significant for this case.
However, on Saturday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in South Korea disclosed that the black box from the Boeing 737-800 had unexpectedly ceased recording for reasons that are still not clear.
“We intend to investigate the reason behind the lack of data recording,” the ministry stated in a press release. They also indicated that alternative data and analysis would be employed to uncover what transpired during last month’s tragedy.
Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, which departed from Bangkok with 181 passengers aboard, was preparing to land at Muan International Airport in the southwestern region of South Korea at 8:59 a.m. on December 29 when the pilot communicated a mayday distress signal and reported a bird strike, according to officials. The pilot also informed the air traffic control tower of his intention to “go around,” indicating he would abandon the initial landing attempt and circle back to prepare for a secondary approach.
However, it seems he didn’t have sufficient time to complete the turn. Instead, the aircraft approached the runway from the opposite side and landed belly-first, with the landing gear still retracted. Struggling to manage its speed, it overshot the runway. Just four minutes after the mayday call, the plane crashed into a concrete structure at the southern end of the runway and erupted in flames.
A critical question remains: What transpired during those last four minutes?
“The black box data is essential for the investigation,” stated Hwang Ho-won, chair of the Korea Association for Aviation Security. “Without it, investigators will face serious challenges.”
The absence of this data adds an element of intrigue to the incident, recognized as the most severe aviation disaster on South Korean territory and the deadliest globally since the Lion Air Flight 610 tragedy in 2018, which claimed the lives of all 189 individuals on board.
Hwang remarked that black boxes could suffer damage due to impact, fire, or being submerged in deep water for extended periods. Nonetheless, he found it difficult to comprehend why the Jeju Air black box ceased functioning during its final minutes.
He also mentioned that investigators may reconstruct part of the cockpit conversation through interviews with control tower officials. Radar and other data indicate that the plane attempted but failed to ascend after the bird strike report and rushed towards landing, Hwang clarified.
Investigators are exploring various scenarios, including the possibility that the aircraft lost one or both engines in its last moments.
The majority of the 179 victims were South Koreans returning home after a Christmas vacation in Thailand. The two survivors were crew members discovered with injuries in the tail section of the aircraft.
The tragedy triggered a nationwide wave of mourning, with memorials established throughout South Korea, coinciding with a political crisis ignited by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law and subsequent impeachment by parliament.
