Investigators Are Discovering WILD Reasons for Deadly Air Crash

Investigators face significant hurdles in unraveling the cause of the deadly Jeju Air jetliner crash in Muan, South Korea, as critical recording devices malfunctioned minutes before the incident.

At a Glance

  • A Jeju Air crash on December 29 resulted in 179 fatalities, marking it as South Korea’s worst aviation disaster
  • Flight data and cockpit voice recorders stopped recording four minutes before the crash
  • The aircraft attempted a go-around but crash-landed without deploying landing gear
  • Investigations are examining various factors, including a reported bird strike and airport infrastructure
  • The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is assisting with the investigation

Crash Details and Initial Findings

On December 29, a Jeju Air jetliner crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea, resulting in 179 fatalities. The aircraft overshot the runway, hit a concrete structure, and burst into flames, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. This tragic incident marks the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil in recent history.

Investigators face a significant challenge as both the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder stopped logging data four minutes before the crash. This critical gap in information has complicated efforts to determine the exact cause of the accident. The South Korean transport ministry is working closely with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to analyze the available data and piece together the events leading up to the crash.

Potential Factors Under Investigation

Several factors are being examined as potential contributors to the crash. Four minutes before the incident, the pilots reported a bird strike and declared an emergency. Air traffic controllers had warned the pilot about possible bird strikes just two minutes earlier. Following this, the aircraft attempted a go-around but ultimately crash-landed without deploying its landing gear.

The investigation is also scrutinizing the airport’s infrastructure, particularly the construction of the localizer system’s concrete housing, which was struck during the crash. Experts have suggested that the design and materials used in this structure may have contributed to the high death toll. This aspect of the investigation raises important questions about airport safety standards and potential improvements needed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Investigative Process and Challenges

The South Korean Transport Ministry has promised a transparent investigation and pledged to share information with the victims’ families. However, there have been calls for independent experts to be involved in the investigation, not just government officials. This request underscores the importance of a thorough and unbiased examination of all factors that may have contributed to the crash.

With the black boxes failing to record the crucial final minutes before impact, investigators are relying on various other sources of information. These include radar data, communications between the pilots and air traffic control, and physical evidence from the crash site. The complex nature of the investigation highlights the challenges faced by aviation safety experts in piecing together the sequence of events that led to this tragic outcome.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to provide answers to the families of the victims and to improve aviation safety.