South Korea: Initial Findings of Jeju Air Crash Indicate Black Box Stopped Recording 2 Km Before Landing
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Synopsis
South Korean authorities have released a preliminary report on the Jeju Air crash, revealing the aircraft's Black Box stopped recording 2 km before landing. The investigation continues as it seeks to determine additional details about the incident.
Key Takeaways
- The Black Box stopped recording 2 km before the runway.
- The crash resulted in 179 fatalities out of 181 passengers.
- Preliminary findings will be shared internationally.
- ICAO mandates timely reporting for aviation accidents.
- The exact circumstances of the bird strike are still under investigation.
Seoul, Jan 27 (NationPress) South Korean officials conducting the investigation into the unfortunate Jeju Air incident that occurred last month have published a preliminary report. This report indicates that the aircraft's Black Box ceased recording roughly 2 kilometers prior to its approach to the runway.
This document is the initial account in the ongoing inquiry into the catastrophic event at Muan International Airport on December 29, resulting in the deaths of 179 of the 181 individuals on board the Boeing 737-800, with only two survivors.
The initial findings are set to be forwarded to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), alongside aviation regulatory bodies in the United States, France, and Thailand, as stated by the transportation ministry.
The ICAO, a United Nations entity, requires investigators to produce a preliminary report within 30 days following an aviation disaster and encourages a final report to be released within 12 months.
The investigation committee from the transport ministry has revealed the estimated location where the Black Box, which includes the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), stopped functioning.
As per the report, the Black Box halted recording at 8:58:50 a.m. on December 29, just four minutes and seven seconds before the aircraft collided with a localiser near the runway following a bird strike.
The ministry indicated that it would require several months to thoroughly analyze the FDR and CVR for additional verification, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Furthermore, the report mentioned that the precise timing of the bird strike, the number of birds involved, and whether other bird species were present remain to be established.
A briefing on the preliminary findings was conducted for the bereaved families during a meeting on Saturday.
On January 25, Yonhap news agency disclosed that the unfortunate Jeju Air aircraft involved in last month’s deadly incident had received a warning from Air Traffic Control regarding bird activity merely one minute before its Black Box recording ceased, according to the transport ministry.
The ministry had shared the preliminary findings with the families of the victims after its investigation into the fatal incident involving the budget carrier flight from Bangkok.
The government had intended to release the preliminary report by Monday, as stated by the ministry.
The investigation committee from the ministry indicated that surveillance footage from the time of the incident at Muan International Airport confirmed that the plane attempted to execute a go-around just before colliding with a flock of birds.
