Jeju Air Crash Probe Focuses on Safety Concerns

The crash of Jeju Air's Boeing 737-800 on December 29, which killed 179 people, remains under investigation as flight data and cockpit voice recorders stopped working four minutes before the accident. Initial analysis in South Korea and subsequent examination by the US National Transportation Safety Board found missing data, complicating efforts to determine the crash's cause. Investigators are considering the possibility of a bird strike, which the pilots reported before the crash, and issues with landing gear and the runway's concrete embankment, which the aircraft struck. The embankment housed a localizer system, designed to assist aircraft landing, raising safety concerns due to its proximity to the runway. South Korean officials assure transparency in the investigation and are consulting with international experts to uncover the reasons for the black boxes' failure and the crash. The investigation also includes reviewing safety protocols at Muan International Airport, where the crash occurred.