Key Takeaways:

• The black boxes from the crashed Jeju Air flight ceased recording approximately four minutes before the impact, resulting in significant data loss relevant to the ongoing investigation.
• The crash on December 29 killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew aboard the Boeing 737-800.
• Investigators are examining possible causes, including a bird strike and the plane's landing gear failure.
• South Korean authorities have pledged to improve airport safety in light of the accident.
• The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is collaborating with South Korean investigators to analyze the data from the black boxes.

The black boxes from Jeju Air's tragic flight that crashed in South Korea last month officially ceased recording about four minutes prior to the disaster, resulting in a notable loss of crucial data for the investigation. The rather unfortunate incident took place on December 29, claiming the lives of 179 individuals, making it the deadliest aviation accident in South Korea's history. Only two survivors were reported among the 181 people on board.

Initial assessments by the South Korean Transport Ministry revealed that the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) were analyzed immediately before being sent to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board for a more thorough examination, particularly after South Korean officials discovered missing data.

The lost recordings complicate efforts to uncover the precise sequence of events leading up to the crash at Muan International Airport, where the plane reportedly belly-landed and collided with a concrete structure after its landing gear failed to deploy. On the air traffic management side, just two minutes before the emergency declaration from the pilot, controllers had alerted the crew about possible bird strikes in the vicinity; an incident reportedly confirmed by the crew upon declaring an emergency.

In response to the tragedy, there have been strong calls from the public and victims' families for a transparent narrative regarding the crash investigation, as well as for thorough reform in aviation safety protocols pertaining to such flights. Critics of the initial investigation process have urged the inclusion of independent experts to assist in the inquiry, highlighting the need for transparency in what many view as a significant lapse of safety in the aviation sector.

The investigation continues as authorities aim to piece together the tragic event leading to the loss of so many lives while ensuring the questions surrounding the matter are satisfactorily addressed, ultimately pushing for necessary reforms in operational safety in the aviation industry.

For more information, read the full articles at SCMP, The Guardian, HuffPost and others.