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Officials are examining the black boxes from Jeju Air flight 7C2216, following its crash. The Boeing 737-800 reportedly experienced a bird strike, though the specifics of its belly landing and destruction remain unclear. Investigators have retrieved the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), both crucial for understanding the accident.
The Korea Office of Civil Aviation leads the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and Boeing. A significant issue is why the plane's landing gear was not deployed despite available mechanisms. South Korea's transport ministry noted that a missing component in the FDR might complicate data recovery efforts. Deputy Minister Joo Jong-wan mentioned that "an expert is continuously looking for ways to restore the data inside the recorder."
Video evidence shows a high-speed belly landing without configured flaps shortly after an emergency declaration by pilots. Aviation expert Chris Kingswood suggested such circumstances could result from engine loss due to a bird strike.
