Sat Jan 11 05:34:57 UTC 2025: ## Jeju Air Crash Investigation Hampered by Black Box Data Loss

**Muan, South Korea** – The investigation into the deadly Jeju Air flight 2216 crash is facing a setback after it was revealed that both the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) stopped recording four minutes before the Boeing 737-800’s fatal crash landing at Muan Airport on December 29th. The crash, which resulted in 179 fatalities out of 181 passengers and crew, involved the aircraft slamming into a runway barrier after a failed landing attempt.

South Korea’s transport ministry announced the data loss on Saturday, stating that the recorders ceased function in the crucial final four minutes before impact. The ministry confirmed that investigators are now focusing on determining the cause of this data loss.

The aircraft, en route from Thailand, had initially attempted a landing before the pilot reported a bird strike and aborted the approach. A second attempt ended in disaster when the landing gear failed to deploy, resulting in the plane’s belly landing and subsequent explosion upon striking the runway’s localizer barrier – a structure designed to aid landings, but which is now under scrutiny for its potential role in exacerbating the impact.

The investigation, involving South Korean and US authorities, is currently exploring several potential contributing factors, including the reported bird strike, faulty landing gear, and the design of the runway barrier itself. The country is still grappling with the aftermath of the tragedy, with memorials established nationwide to honor the victims.

Read More