A preliminary report on the fatal Jeju Air crash in South Korea last month reveals that the aircraft's black boxes ceased recording approximately four minutes before the devastating impact, which claimed the lives of 179 individuals. The report, issued by South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, confirms earlier statements from the Transportation Ministry regarding the malfunctioning flight data and cockpit voice recorders on the Boeing 737-800. These devices were subsequently sent to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board for further analysis due to missing data. The reason for the recording failure remains undetermined.

Adding to the complexity of the investigation, evidence of bird strikes, including feathers and bloodstains, has been found in both engines. While DNA analysis has identified the birds as Baikal teals, a migratory duck species, the role of the bird strike in the crash is yet to be established.

The ill-fated aircraft, en route from Bangkok, skidded off the runway at Muan International Airport on December 29, 2024, following a landing gear malfunction. The plane collided with a concrete barrier and erupted in flames, leaving only two survivors out of the 181 people on board. All but two of the victims were South Korean nationals.

Prior to the crash, air traffic controllers had alerted the pilots to the possibility of bird strikes. A distress signal from the aircraft confirmed a bird strike had occurred, prompting an attempted emergency landing. A security camera also captured footage of the plane nearing birds during a previous aborted landing attempt. The ongoing investigation will involve a comprehensive examination of the engines, black box data, air traffic control communications, and other physical evidence to ascertain the definitive cause of the tragic accident. The preliminary report has been shared with international aviation authorities, including Thailand, the U.S., and France, reflecting the multinational involvement in the aircraft's manufacture and operation.