US NTSB Supports Jeju Air Accident Investigation... Manufacturer Also Participates

The U.S. authorities will assist in investigating the cause of the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster at Jeonnam Muan International Airport.

On the 29th (local time), according to the New York Times (NYT) and others, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it plans to lead an American investigation team to assist the Korean aviation authorities' investigation.

On the 29th, a Jeju Air passenger plane carrying 181 passengers collided with the outer wall of the runway while landing at Muan International Airport, causing a fire that resulted in a major disaster with most passengers dead. The forensic investigation team is searching for casualties outside the runway at Muan International Airport, Jeonnam. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The NTSB stated that the investigation team will also include Boeing, the manufacturer of the ill-fated passenger plane, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). All information will be disclosed through the Korea Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board.

The Jeju Air flight 7C2216 involved in this accident is a Boeing '737-800' model. Since its release in 1997, more than 5,000 units have been sold, accounting for nearly half of the sales of Boeing 737 models.

According to the Korea Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board, the flight data recorder (FDR) of the ill-fated passenger plane was recovered at the scene with some external damage. If the damage to the FDR is severe and analysis is difficult domestically, the investigation may need to be entrusted to the NTSB.