S. Korean Plane’s Black Boxes Halted 4 Minutes Before Crash

The flight recorders from the South Korean passenger jet that tragically crashed last month, claiming the lives of 179 people, stopped functioning just minutes before the catastrophic belly-landing at Muan International Airport, authorities reported on Saturday.

Investigators had initially hoped the black boxes—comprising the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR)—would provide vital insights into the cause of the crash involving Jeju Air flight 7C 2216.

The Boeing 737-800, which was en route from Bangkok, crashed on December 29, erupting into flames upon landing and leaving only two survivors.

The South Korean transport ministry disclosed that both recorders ceased operating approximately four minutes before the crash, although the reasons for this malfunction remain unclear.

Investigators emphasized that, despite this setback, the investigation would continue through the analysis of various data sources to determine the cause of the disaster.

While the CVR was initially analyzed in South Korea, it was later sent to the United States for further verification.

The FDR, which sustained damage and was missing a connector, was also sent to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for detailed analysis after local authorities were unable to extract usable data.