Black boxes on crashed South Korean plane cut out before impact, inquiry finds
GuardianJAN 20
Black Box Failed 4 Minutes Before Fatal Korean Plane Crash
Above: A Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Jeju Air Co. taxies on the tarmac at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 31, 2024. Image copyright: SeongJoon Cho/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The loss of black box data from flight 7C 2216 underscores the complexities of determining the cause of such a tragic accident. With no direct data from the flight recorders, South Korean and US investigators must rely on other evidence, including the controversial embankment near the runway, raising critical questions about the airport's design and safety protocols.
Narrative B
Black boxes are crucial tools in aviation safety, providing insights into crashes that save lives by driving regulatory and design improvements. While it does happen occasionally, its failure during the Jeju Air flight should arguably never have happened. Built to endure extreme conditions, black boxes must remain virtually indestructible to ensure investigators can always access critical data for improving aviation safety and preventing future disasters.