SEOUL- GE Aerospace has entered the investigation of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster, bringing technical expertise regarding the CFM56 engines that powered the ill-fated Boeing aircraft.
The South Korean Transport Ministry has extended its comprehensive inspection of all 101 Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating in the country until January 10.
Photo: EPA ImagesGE Aerospace Joins Plane Crash Investigation
Transport Deputy Minister Joo Jong-wan describes the investigation as assembling a complex puzzle, with investigators methodically examining every piece of evidence.
The ministry’s extension of the inspection timeline reflects growing concerns about maintenance practices and parts procurement procedures across Korean airlines.
Social media footage captured smoke billowing from the aircraft’s right engine moments before the catastrophic incident. The Bangkok-bound Boeing 737-800, operated by Jeju Air, attempted an emergency landing at Muan Regional Airport.
The aircraft failed to maintain altitude, struck the ground, and skidded beyond the runway’s end. Upon impact with an embankment, the plane erupted into flames, resulting in 179 fatalities.
Photo: byeangel | FlickrSouth Korea Intensifies Investigation
South Korea’s Transport Ministry has launched comprehensive safety examinations of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft engines, maintenance documentation, and landing gear systems. Airlines face operational suspension for serious safety violations discovered during these inspections.
The investigation team has expanded to include a representative from GE Aerospace, whose CFM International joint venture with Safran manufactured the aircraft’s engines. GE Aerospace has not provided immediate comment regarding their involvement in the investigation.
The 23-member investigation team now comprises twelve Korean investigators alongside representatives from Boeing, GE Aerospace, and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). This multinational collaboration aims to uncover the disaster’s root cause.
The crash intensifies Boeing’s existing challenges, following recent incidents including two fatal 737 MAX crashes, a mid-air panel failure, and a significant worker strike. These events have severely impacted the manufacturer’s industry reputation.
Key questions remain unanswered about the aircraft’s retracted landing gear during impact and the pilot’s decision to attempt a second landing after reporting a bird strike and declaring an emergency. Flight data analysis will proceed in the United States, where two South Korean investigators will travel with the recently recovered flight data recorder.
Deputy Minister Joo anticipates the completion of cockpit voice recording transcription within days. The ministry will subsequently determine whether to release this crucial evidence to the public.
Image via APPresidential Oversight
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has directed investigators to accelerate evidence collection at the crash site and expedite the analysis of cockpit voice recorder data. This presidential intervention emphasizes the national significance of the investigation.
Law enforcement officials have initiated searches at Jeju Air’s headquarters and Muan International Airport’s operational facilities. Police have implemented travel restrictions on Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae and another unnamed company official, preventing their departure from South Korea during the investigation.
The investigation team will conduct specialized inspections of landing systems and related infrastructure at airports across South Korea by January 8. This nationwide assessment aims to identify potential systemic safety risks.
Aviation safety experts have identified critical concerns about the airport’s infrastructure. They specifically highlight the navigation system’s support embankment, citing its excessive rigidity and proximity to the runway’s end as potential contributing factors to the crash’s severity.
Investigators have retrieved 107 mobile phones from the crash site. These devices, containing text messages and other data from the moments before the crash, will undergo thorough analysis to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the disaster.
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Jeju Air Plane Crash Black Box Voice Recorder Data Recovered
The post GE Aerospace Joins Jeju Air Deadly 737 Plane Crash Investigation appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
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