South Korean investigators have successfully extracted data from one of the black boxes from the Jeju Air plane that crashed on Sunday, the transport ministry announced. The recovered cockpit voice recorder data will now be converted into an audio file. However, authorities face delays in accessing the second black box – the flight data recorder – as it is missing a critical connector.
Investigators are hopeful that the data from the black boxes will shed light on the moments leading up to the tragedy, which claimed 179 lives, making it the deadliest plane crash in South Korea’s history.
Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan stated that discussions are ongoing about the best approach to decode the flight data recorder. He added that officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have joined the probe into the accident, which involved a Boeing 737-800.
The aircraft was en route from Bangkok when it crash-landed at Muan International Airport, sliding into a wall at the end of the runway before bursting into flames. Only two crew members survived.
Key questions remain unanswered as investigators examine the possibility of a bird strike or adverse weather conditions contributing to the crash.
The passengers on flight 7C2216 ranged in age from three to 78, with most in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, according to Yonhap News Agency. Two Thai nationals were among the victims, with the remainder believed to be South Korean.
The process of identifying the victims has been arduous due to the severity of the damage to many bodies. Authorities utilised fingerprints, DNA, and saliva samples collected from family members to confirm identities. On Wednesday, Acting President Choi Sang-mok announced that all 179 victims had been identified.
In the wake of the tragedy, South Korea has declared a seven-day period of national mourning. New Year’s Day celebrations across the country have been cancelled or significantly scaled down out of respect for the victims and their families.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Jeju Air CEO Kim Yi-bae expressed condolences to the victims’ families and announced plans for emergency compensation and full coverage of funeral costs. “A pre-flight inspection of the plane found no issues,” he said, emphasising that investigations into the crash’s cause remain ongoing.
Authorities continue to piece together the events leading to the disaster, as the nation grieves one of its most devastating aviation incidents.
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