SEOUL: South Korea's investigative team announced on Saturday that they are on the verge of completing the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder from the tragic Jeju Air flight 2216 crash that resulted in the loss of 179 lives last week.

This catastrophic incident occurred when the Boeing 737-800, with 181 on board, was returning from Thailand to South Korea. The plane experienced a belly landing before colliding with a concrete barrier at the end of the runway at Muan International Airport.

A collaborative investigation is underway, involving South Korean and U.S. authorities, as well as representatives from Boeing, working tirelessly at the crash site located in southwestern Muan to determine the factors leading to this disaster.

According to statements from South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the transcript is expected to be finalized soon. Additionally, the flight data recorder is being prepared to be sent to the United States for further analysis. This detailed examination is crucial for understanding the circumstances surrounding the crash.

This week, investigators successfully recovered the plane's engine from the wreckage. While the exact cause of the accident remains undetermined, several potential issues have emerged during preliminary assessments, including the possibility of a bird strike, malfunctioning landing gear, and complications caused by the runway barrier.

As part of the investigation, authorities executed search and seizure operations at Muan airport, a regional aviation office in the city, and Jeju Air’s headquarters in Seoul. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae has been prohibited from leaving the country while investigators delve deeper into the incident's causes.

Witness accounts indicate that the pilot alerted for a potential bird strike before failing to successfully land the aircraft during its second attempt, during which the landing gear reportedly did not deploy.

Dramatic footage revealed the moment the aircraft struck the concrete barrier, leading to a devastating fire. In the aftermath, recovery crews have begun to recover debris and return the remains of the deceased, along with personal effects, to grieving families.

The ill-fated flight primarily consisted of South Korean tourists returning from festive holiday trips to Bangkok, with only two Thai passengers on board. Heart-wrenching images from local media depict authorities handing over personal items like smartphones and exotic snacks like dried mango and coconut, which had been brought back from Thailand, to the victims' families.

As the investigation progresses, questions remain about the safety protocols and preventive measures in place within the aviation sector, raising concerns among the public regarding air travel safety. Stay tuned as more updates unfold from this tragic event that has deeply impacted the communities involved.