South Korea has successfully extracted initial data from the cockpit voice recorder of the Jeju Air aircraft with flight number 7C2216 that crashed at Muan Airport on Sunday (29/12/2024). Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation, Joo Jong-wan, announced on Wednesday (1/1/2025) that the initial extraction of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) has been completed. He mentioned that they have begun the process of converting it into an audio file format and plan to finish the audio extraction work as soon as possible, as reported by the Hankyoreh newspaper.
### Progress on Extracted Data
The first CVR black box data has been extracted, while the second Flight Data Recorder (FDR) black box is still undergoing extraction. Experts are currently working on extracting data from the second black box. Once the analysis is complete, detailed conversations about the return process and aircraft landing procedures are expected to be revealed.
### Concerns and Challenges
The FDR data was found damaged but intact. However, due to the loss of the device connecting it to the data extraction unit, data extraction is not currently possible on this device. There are concerns about the potential damage to the data itself, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has reassured that no such damage has occurred. The Ministry is conducting a final examination on how to extract the data since the connector (connecting device) is missing.
### Humanizing the Tragedy
Among the two survivors of the Jeju Air plane crash on Sunday (29/12/2024), one individual seems to be experiencing traumatic amnesia. This survivor cannot recall the fatal accident incident, highlighting the emotional and psychological impact of such a tragic event on those involved.
The extraction of crucial data from the black boxes is a vital step towards understanding the circumstances leading to the tragic crash. The meticulous efforts of the aviation authorities and experts in this process are essential to uncovering valuable insights that could prevent similar accidents in the future. As the investigation progresses, the hope for answers and closure for the victims and their families remains at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
