The tragic crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 at Muan International Airport on December 29 claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew, marking one of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disasters. The investigation into the crash gained momentum following the release of a partial transcript of communication between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, raising crucial questions about the circumstances leading to the fatal incident.
In the minutes leading up to the crash, the pilots communicated three different landing strategies after reporting a bird strike and issuing a mayday call. Initially, they attempted a left turn and subsequently requested a right turn to approach the runway from the south. After these attempts failed, air traffic controllers proposed landing from the opposite direction, to which the pilots agreed.
Tragically, the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, landed on its belly, overran the runway, and collided with a concrete structure, igniting a massive fireball. Remarkably, only two individuals, both flight attendants positioned at the back of the plane, managed to survive the harrowing incident.
The ongoing investigation aims to decipher the crash's cause, particularly the state of the aircraft's engines and electrical systems, areas of intense scrutiny after the flight recorders—commonly known as black boxes—ceased recording prior to the accident. The uncertainty surrounding the loss of data from the black boxes and the disengaged landing gear remains a focal point for investigators.
Family members of the victims were briefed on the transcript by an investigative board representative, which revealed the pilots’ exchanges while withholding sections to protect participant privacy. However, the full disclosure of the transcript has not yet been made available to the public, leaving many questions unanswered. As the investigation proceeds, these communications may prove to be vital in understanding the tragic events that unfolded that morning.
In the minutes leading up to the crash, the pilots communicated three different landing strategies after reporting a bird strike and issuing a mayday call. Initially, they attempted a left turn and subsequently requested a right turn to approach the runway from the south. After these attempts failed, air traffic controllers proposed landing from the opposite direction, to which the pilots agreed.
Tragically, the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, landed on its belly, overran the runway, and collided with a concrete structure, igniting a massive fireball. Remarkably, only two individuals, both flight attendants positioned at the back of the plane, managed to survive the harrowing incident.
The ongoing investigation aims to decipher the crash's cause, particularly the state of the aircraft's engines and electrical systems, areas of intense scrutiny after the flight recorders—commonly known as black boxes—ceased recording prior to the accident. The uncertainty surrounding the loss of data from the black boxes and the disengaged landing gear remains a focal point for investigators.
Family members of the victims were briefed on the transcript by an investigative board representative, which revealed the pilots’ exchanges while withholding sections to protect participant privacy. However, the full disclosure of the transcript has not yet been made available to the public, leaving many questions unanswered. As the investigation proceeds, these communications may prove to be vital in understanding the tragic events that unfolded that morning.
