Investigation continues as the Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash turns into South Korea's deadliest aviation tragedy.
Tragic Jeju Air Crash: Pilots' Final Attempts Revealed in Transcripts
Tragic Jeju Air Crash: Pilots' Final Attempts Revealed in Transcripts
Communications Between Pilots and Air Traffic Control Provide Critical Insights into December Disaster
The pilots of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which tragically crashed at Muan International Airport on December 29, 2023, engaged in multiple discussions regarding alternate landing approaches just moments before the disaster. A partial transcript detailing their communication with air traffic controllers offers potential insights into the events leading to the crash that claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew.
In the final moments of their flight, the pilots reported encountering a bird strike, promptly issuing a mayday call as they began their descent. Initially, they planned to turn left; however, after complications arose, they requested to turn right in an attempt to align with the airport's runway from the south. Unfortunately, further attempts were thwarted, leading controllers to suggest an approach from the opposite direction, an option the pilots accepted. The final landing attempt ended catastrophically as the Boeing 737-800 landed on its belly, leading to an overrun where it collided with a concrete structure meant for navigation support, igniting a fireball that consumed the aircraft.
Of the 179 individuals on board, only two flight attendants near the rear of the aircraft survived the disaster. Investigators are delving into the details surrounding the critical moments captured in the transcript, particularly since this timeframe corresponds with the blackout experienced by both of the plane's flight recorders.
Crucial information surrounding the status of the plane's engines and electrical systems, which are key aspects under scrutiny, was also absent from the transcript. Investigators remain puzzled by the black boxes' failure to record and the lack of deployment of the plane's landing gear.
During a recent meeting, family members of the crash victims were provided with a readout of the transcript by an official from the investigation board. They were informed that some sections of the conversation had been omitted to protect participant privacy. The full transcript has not been made public, and inquiries directed towards the board regarding further details have yet to be addressed.
In the final moments of their flight, the pilots reported encountering a bird strike, promptly issuing a mayday call as they began their descent. Initially, they planned to turn left; however, after complications arose, they requested to turn right in an attempt to align with the airport's runway from the south. Unfortunately, further attempts were thwarted, leading controllers to suggest an approach from the opposite direction, an option the pilots accepted. The final landing attempt ended catastrophically as the Boeing 737-800 landed on its belly, leading to an overrun where it collided with a concrete structure meant for navigation support, igniting a fireball that consumed the aircraft.
Of the 179 individuals on board, only two flight attendants near the rear of the aircraft survived the disaster. Investigators are delving into the details surrounding the critical moments captured in the transcript, particularly since this timeframe corresponds with the blackout experienced by both of the plane's flight recorders.
Crucial information surrounding the status of the plane's engines and electrical systems, which are key aspects under scrutiny, was also absent from the transcript. Investigators remain puzzled by the black boxes' failure to record and the lack of deployment of the plane's landing gear.
During a recent meeting, family members of the crash victims were provided with a readout of the transcript by an official from the investigation board. They were informed that some sections of the conversation had been omitted to protect participant privacy. The full transcript has not been made public, and inquiries directed towards the board regarding further details have yet to be addressed.
