South Korea is grappling with its worst aviation disaster after the crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which occurred on Sunday, resulting in the tragic death of 179 out of 181 passengers. Investigators announced that they have extracted initial data from the cockpit voice recorder and will be sending the damaged flight data recorder to the United States for further analysis, as domestic recovery was deemed impossible.

The Boeing 737-800, returning from Thailand, issued a mayday call before making an emergency belly landing at Muan International Airport, where it tragically collided with a concrete barrier. Investigators, including those from Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board, are exploring potential causes of the crash, including a possible bird strike and suspected mechanical failures regarding the aircraft’s landing gear.

“Based on this preliminary data, we plan to start converting it into audio format,” said South Korea's deputy minister for civil aviation, Joo Jong-wan, referring to the cockpit voice recorder. Meanwhile, recovery attempts for the flight data recorder are ongoing, as it was found with a missing connector determined to be beyond domestic recovery capabilities.

The acting president of South Korea, Choi Sang-mok, expressed commitment for a thorough investigation, stating, “A comprehensive analysis and review of the aircraft’s structure and the black box data will reveal the cause of the accident.” This thorough investigation comes as families of victims express frustration over delays in identifying and recovering the bodies.

Memorial altars have been set up nationwide, with a significant focus on the barrier that exacerbated the impact of the crash, which was blamed by many as a contributing factor to the severity of the tragedy.

This investigation is critical, as it marks the deadliest aviation incident on South Korean soil in almost three decades, drawing attention from international aviation analysts and experts.

As the situation evolves, memorial services for the victims are being organized, which include nationwide mourning ceremonies to honor the lives lost in this tragic event.

For more updates on this developing story, follow the detailed coverage from SCMP and India Times.