SEOUL: The South Korean government announced plans to send the flight data recorder from the Jeju Air crash to the United States for analysis, as authorities seek to uncover the causes behind the tragic incident that claimed 179 lives. The decision comes as part of ongoing efforts to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash of the Jeju Air B737-800 at Muan International Airport.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport revealed in a briefing that the flight recorder, which was retrieved from the crash site, had sustained external damage, including a missing connector critical for its data storage unit. The Ministry has determined that extracting data from the damaged recorder is not feasible in South Korea, prompting the collaboration with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to conduct the analysis overseas.

Joo Jong-wan, director of the aviation policy division at the ministry, stated that South Korean experts would be involved in the analysis process in the United States. Meanwhile, data extraction from the cockpit voice recorder, which was found in a relatively better condition, has been completed, with efforts underway to convert it into voice files.

In addition to the technical analysis, two investigators from Boeing Co. have joined the on-site probe at Muan International Airport, bringing the total number of U.S. team members to 10. The team now includes six representatives from Boeing and three from the NTSB, who are working closely with the South Korean investigative team led by the Ministry.

The joint investigation efforts have focused on the localizer, a navigation system that aids aircraft landings, which was installed on a concrete structure at the airport. This system has been cited as a factor that may have worsened the crash's impact. U.S. officials have been meticulously examining the airplane debris scattered across the runway, including engine parts, and are actively documenting their findings.

The tragic crash occurred when the Jeju Air aircraft belly-landed and subsequently exploded, resulting in significant loss of life. The investigation continues as authorities from both countries work to understand the factors that contributed to this devastating event.