Investigation into South Korea’s deadly Jeju Air crash intensifies as families mourn and seek answers.
The investigation into the South Korea passenger jet crash is progressing as families prepare for funerals following the identification of all 179 victims.
South Korean investigators have retrieved data from the cockpit voice recorder, which will be converted into audio files in an effort to understand the moments leading up to the disaster.
The damaged flight data recorder will be sent to the U.S. for analysis, as local extraction was deemed unfeasible.
All 175 passengers and four crew members died when the Jeju Air flight belly-landed at Muan International Airport, crashing into a sand-and-concrete embankment.
Only two crew members survived, located near the tail of the aircraft.
A national mourning period has been declared and New Year celebrations will be reduced.
Additional U.S. officials joined a team of around two dozen investigators, including those from the NTSB and Boeing, to begin a visual investigation of the wreckage.
The investigation will explore potential causes including a bird strike and landing gear failure, as well as the reasons behind the pilot’s rapid landing decision after declaring an emergency.
Concerns have been raised regarding the proximity of the embankment to the runway.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok stated that returning the victims to their families is a priority, as funeral procedures commence.
A memorial altar has been established, and many mourners have visited the crash site to pay their respects, with relatives laying flowers and food offerings in honour of the victims.
