South Korean authorities have announced that they are close to completing the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from a tragic plane crash that claimed 179 lives last week. The incident involved Air flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800, which was traveling from Thailand to South Korea with 181 passengers and crew. The aircraft belly-landed before crashing into a concrete barrier at the end of a runway at an airport in the southwestern part of the country.

South Korean and U.S. investigators, including representatives from Boeing, have been thoroughly examining the crash site since the incident occurred, seeking to determine the cause. The South Korean Ministry of Land reported that the transcript of the CVR is expected to be finished soon, and the flight data recorder (FDR) is being prepared to be sent to the United States for further analysis. Additionally, investigators recovered the plane's engine from the crash site this week.

While the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, authorities have suggested several possible factors, including a bird strike, malfunctioning landing gear, and the runway barrier. Police have also conducted search and seizure operations at the airport, a regional aviation office, and at Air's headquarters in Seoul. The CEO of the airline, Kim E-bae, has been barred from leaving the country as the investigation progresses.

The pilot had initially aborted the first landing after reporting a bird strike, but the second landing attempt ended in disaster when the plane's landing gear failed to deploy. Disturbing footage captured the moment the aircraft struck the concrete barrier and erupted in flames.

As part of the recovery process, authorities have begun removing the wreckage and returning the bodies and personal belongings of the deceased to their families. Many of the passengers were South Koreans returning from vacation in Bangkok, with a small number of Thai nationals onboard. Local media have reported that personal items, such as smartphones and souvenirs like dried mango and coconut from Thailand, have been returned to the victims' families.