Crashed Jeju aircraft stopped recording 4 minutes before accident

JEJU AIR BOEING 737-8AS HL-8539 (MSN 36570)

I came across this story and I am really struggling to work out how the CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) and the FDR (Flight Data Recorder) of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft stopped functioning four minutes before the crash incident took place. I am not a pilot nor work in the aviation industry, but I have studied and been around aircraft for almost 50 years.

The black boxes from the Boeing jet involved in South Korea's deadliest disaster ceased recording four minutes before the crash, according to the transport ministry. The tragedy claimed 179 lives, leaving two survivors. Investigators deem the data and cockpit voice recorders essential for determining cause of the December 29 crash. The Jeju Air 7C2216 flight from Bangkok to Muan encountered a bird strike four minutes prior to impact. The jet-landed, overshot the runway, and exploded upon striking a concrete wall.

Authorities are examining why the black boxes failed to capture the crucial final minutes. The voice recorder, opened and reviewed in South Korea, was sent to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board after missing data was detected. These devices track cockpit communications and aircraft performance.

Two minutes prior to the pilots declaring a Mayday, air traffic control issued a warning about bird activity in the area. A former investigator proposed that the missing data indicates a rare total power failure, resulting in the shutdown of the entire system.

Families of victims have questioned the transport ministry's leadership in the probe, calling for independent experts to ensure transparency and honesty. Investigators are also scrutinizing the embankment's construction, as its rigid design and proximity to the runway may have exacerbated the crash's severity.

The ministry pledged to use all available data for a thorough investigation and share findings with the victims' families. This incident underscores the need for enhanced aviation safety and transparent oversight.

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE IMMEDIATE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND ALL THE STAFF AT JEJU AIR