US Officials and Boeing Representatives Collaborate on Investigation of South Korean Plane Crash
Click to start listening
Seoul, Dec 31 (NationPress) A coalition of investigators from the US government and aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. has reached the site of the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport to take part in the inquiry into the event, as reported by officials in Seoul on Tuesday.
According to the Seoul transport ministry, the investigation team includes one member from the US Federal Aviation Administration, three experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and four representatives from Boeing, collaborating with officials from South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) at the crash site, as per Yonhap news agency.
The US team arrived in South Korea on Monday via Incheon International Airport and went directly to Muan, located approximately 290 kilometers southwest of Seoul, to begin preparations for the investigation.
“South Korean and US investigators engaged in discussions about the investigative procedures and specific focal points for the inquiry,” stated Joo Jong-wan, head of aviation policy at the transport ministry, during a press briefing.
As stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization convention, the nation where the accident took place bears the responsibility for initiating the investigation.
Countries with stakeholders involved in the incident, such as the operator and manufacturer of the aircraft, as well as nations that had victims, possess the right to take part in the inquiry. Notably, Thailand, which lost two nationals in the crash, has reportedly opted out of this investigation.
As per the ministry, the representatives from the US and Boeing, along with 11 members of South Korea's ARAIB, are currently examining the wreckage and debris at the crash site, seeking components that may provide insights into the cause of the accident.
After the on-site investigation, the inquiry will transition to the analysis phase, which involves scrutinizing the collected evidence and data retrieved from the aircraft's two black boxes.
One of the black boxes, specifically the flight data recorder, was found to have external damage and was missing a connector that connects its data storage unit to the power supply.
“Authorities are exploring technical solutions to extract the data despite the lack of the connector,” Joo stated.
The second black box, the cockpit voice recorder, is reported to be in relatively better condition.
The investigation team will soon determine whether to conduct repairs and analysis of the damaged black box domestically or to send it to the NTSB in the US for further examination.
Joo mentioned that two air traffic controllers were on duty at the airport at the time of the crash. Investigators have interviewed both to gather their accounts of the incident, but information will not be released at this time.
The government has announced that operations at Muan International Airport will be suspended until January 7, with a decision on its reopening to be made later.
