4th January 2025 – (Seoul) South Korean investigators announced today they are close to completing the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder from the tragic Jeju Air flight 2216 crash that resulted in 179 fatalities last week. The recording is anticipated to provide critical insights into the final moments of the flight, which was en route from Thailand to South Korea and experienced a belly landing before colliding with a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport.
A collaborative investigation involving South Korean and U.S. officials, including representatives from Boeing, has been underway at the crash site in southwestern Muan to ascertain the cause of the disaster. According to the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the transcript is expected to be finalized today, while preparations are being made to transport the flight data recorder to the United States for further analysis.
This week, investigators also retrieved the aircraft’s engine from the wreckage. While the precise cause of the Boeing 737-800 crash remains undetermined, potential contributing factors include a bird strike, malfunctioning landing gear, and the runway barrier.
Authorities have conducted searches at Muan airport, the regional aviation office, and Jeju Air’s headquarters in Seoul. Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim E-bae, has been restricted from leaving the country as inquiries continue.
Dramatic footage captured the moment the aircraft struck the concrete barrier before igniting in flames. Rescue operations have begun to remove the wreckage, with some victims’ bodies and personal belongings—such as smartphones and dried tropical fruits sourced from Thailand—being returned to grieving families. The flight primarily carried South Korean vacationers returning from year-end trips to Bangkok, along with two Thai passengers.
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