Canada Global (Web News) The investigation into the crash of a South Korean passenger plane gained momentum on Wednesday, as families of the victims began making funeral arrangements after authorities completed the formal identification of all 179 casualties in the nation’s deadliest aviation disaster.
According to the transport ministry, investigators have successfully retrieved data from the cockpit voice recorder and are converting it into an audio file, which could provide critical insights into the moments leading up to the crash. Efforts are ongoing to recover data from the flight data recorder, although the device was found missing a crucial connector.
The crash occurred on Sunday when Jeju Air Flight 089590.KS belly-landed at Muan International Airport in southwestern South Korea, colliding with a sand-and-concrete embankment at the runway’s edge before erupting in flames. All 175 passengers and four of the six crew members lost their lives, while two crew members seated near the tail of the Boeing 737-800 survived.
Late Tuesday, two additional U.S. officials joined a team of roughly two dozen investigators, including representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing. Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan stated during a briefing that a visual inspection of the wreckage is set to begin.
Authorities are examining several possible causes, including a bird strike, a failure of the landing gear, or malfunctions in other control systems. Investigators are also scrutinizing the pilot’s decision to attempt an immediate landing after declaring an emergency.
Additionally, concerns have been raised about whether the embankment near the runway, constructed to support navigation equipment, was too close to the landing strip.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, emphasized the importance of a thorough and impartial investigation during an inter-agency meeting on Wednesday. He also announced that funeral arrangements were underway, following the identification of all the victims.
“The top priority is to reunite the victims with their families,” Choi said.
An altar was set up at the airport on Tuesday evening, and buses transported grieving relatives to the crash site on Wednesday. They were able to pay their respects near the remnants of the aircraft, with its charred and broken tail being one of the few sections still recognizable after the devastating crash.
