Final Minutes of Deadly South Korean Plane Crash Recorders Missing

KRKorea|

South Korea’s transport ministry has revealed that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the Jeju Air flight, which crashed last month, stopped recording just four minutes before the disaster occurred. The crash, which happened on December 29 at Muan International Airport, claimed the lives of 179 people, making it the deadliest air accident in the nation’s history. Only two cabin crew members survived the incident.

The Jeju Air flight was arriving from Bangkok when it touch-landed approximately a third of the way down the runway without deploying its landing gear. Following the initial investigation in South Korea, the recorders were sent to the United States for further analysis after the missing data was discovered.

Experts had anticipated that the recorders would offer critical insights into the moments leading up to the crash. Former transport ministry investigator Sim Jai-dong indicated that the loss of data from the final moments suggests a potential total power failure, including backup systems.

Investigation efforts are currently focusing on various factors that may have contributed to the crash, including the possibility of a bird strike or adverse weather conditions. There are also ongoing inquiries regarding the decision not to deploy the landing gear prior to touchdown. Families of the victims continue to wait for the return of their loved ones' remains as the investigation unfolds.

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