Every air disaster brings its share of doubts, which are resolved more or less quickly depending on the case. The causes of the crash of the Boeing 737-800 belonging to the Korean low-cost airline Jeju Air on Sunday, December 29, at Muan International Airport in South Korea could be determined fairly quickly thanks to the black boxes, one recording the technical parameters of the flight, the other the sounds and voices in the cockpit.

Without delay, the South Korean government ordered an inspection of the 101 aircraft of this type operating in the country. One key element has already been officially identified: During the approach to the airport, the Boeing hit some birds, which may have been sucked up by one of the engines. When it landed, with the wing flaps folded, the landing gear was not down and the reverse thrust system (retropropulsion) braking the aircraft did not seem to be working. The French Bureau of Investigations and Analyses for the Safety of Civil Aviation may assist in the investigation, as the aircraft is equipped with engines manufactured by CFM International, a Safran-General Electric joint venture.

You have 70.21% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.