South Korea nears completion of cockpit transcript from fatal plane crash

The Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 was en route from Thailand to South Korea when it crash-landed during its second attempt

South Korean investigators are nearing completion of the transcript from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recovered from the wreckage of Jeju Air flight 2216, which crashed last Sunday. The recording is expected to shed light on the tragic incident that claimed 179 lives.

The Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers and crew, was en route from Thailand to South Korea when it crash-landed during its second attempt to land at Muan International Airport. The aircraft skidded along the runway before colliding with a concrete barrier, bursting into flames.

Officials from South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed on Saturday that the CVR transcript would be finalised shortly. Meanwhile, the flight data recorder (FDR) is being prepared for transport to the United States for further analysis. Investigators are working alongside US experts, including representatives from Boeing, to determine the cause of the crash.

“The transcript of the cockpit voice recorder is expected to be completed today,” the ministry stated. “The aircraft’s engine has also been recovered from the crash site.”

While the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, investigators are exploring several possibilities, including a bird strike, malfunctioning landing gear, and the impact of the runway barrier. Authorities have conducted search and seizure operations at Muan Airport, a regional aviation office in the city of Muan, and Jeju Air’s headquarters in Seoul as part of the investigation.

The pilot reportedly alerted air traffic control to a possible bird strike during the first landing attempt. However, the second attempt ended in disaster when the landing gear failed to deploy, resulting in the aircraft slamming into the barrier. Dramatic footage captured the moment of impact and the ensuing fire.

Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim E-bae, has been prohibited from leaving the country while the investigation continues, South Korean police confirmed.

Efforts to recover and examine the wreckage are ongoing, with authorities also working to return personal belongings and the remains of victims to their families. Items such as smartphones and Thai-sourced dried mangoes and coconuts have been handed over to grieving relatives.

Most of the passengers onboard were South Korean holidaymakers returning from end-of-year trips to Bangkok, with two Thai nationals also among those on the flight.

The crash has left the nation in mourning, with investigators racing to uncover the factors that led to one of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.