Jeju Air crash black boxes stopped recording minutes before disaster

The damaged flight data recorder had been deemed unrecoverable for data extraction by South Korean authorities, who sent it to the United States for analysis at the US National Transportation Safety Board laboratory.

The flight data recorder (FDR) retrieved from Jeju Air flight 2216 which crashed killing 179 people. Photo / AFP

But it appears that the boxes holding clues to the flight’s final moments experienced data loss, leaving authorities trying to find out what happened.

“Plans are in place to investigate the cause of the data loss during the ongoing accident investigation,” the ministry said.

South Korean and US investigators are still probing the cause of the crash, which prompted a national outpouring of mourning with memorials set up across the country.

“Committed”

Investigators said the boxes were crucial to their probe but added they would not give up on trying to find out why the crash happened.

“The investigation will be conducted through the examination and analysis of various data. The Committee is committed to doing its best to accurately determine the cause of the accident,” the ministry said.

Investigators have pointed to a bird strike, faulty landing gear and the runway barrier as possible issues.

South Korea's Finance Minister and acting president Choi Sang-mok (green jacket) visits the scene where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft crashed. Photo / AFP — South Korea’s Finance Minister and acting president Choi Sang-mok (green jacket) visits the scene where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft crashed. Photo / AFP

The pilot warned of a bird strike before pulling out of a first landing, then crashed on a second attempt when the landing gear did not emerge.

This week, lead investigator Lee Seung-yeol told reporters that “feathers were found” in one of the plane’s recovered engines, but cautioned a bird strike does not lead to an immediate engine failure.

Authorities have raided offices at Muan airport where the crash took place, a regional aviation office in the southwestern city, and Jeju Air’s office in the capital Seoul.

They also barred Jeju Air’s chief executive from leaving the country.

Rival parties later formed a joint taskforce to probe the crash, while Transport Minister Park Sang-woo offered his resignation this week.

“As the minister responsible for aviation safety, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility regarding this tragedy,” he said.

– Agence France-Presse