Police search offices of Jeju Air, airport operator as part of probe

Conversion of data from cockpit voice recorder to audio files completed

The South Korean police said on Jan 2 that they raided Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport as part of their investigation into the crash on Dec 29 that killed 179 people in the worst aviation disaster on the country's soil.

Jeju Air Flight 2216, which departed Thai capital Bangkok for Muan in south-western South Korea, belly-landed and overshot the regional airport's runway, exploding into flames after hitting an embankment.

Two crew members, who were sitting in the tail end of the Boeing 737-800, were pulled alive from the plane by rescuers. One of them was still in critical condition and the other was being treated for injuries, a Transport Ministry official said.

The conversion of data from the cockpit voice recorder to audio files, which could provide critical information on the final minutes of the flight, was completed on Jan 2, Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan said at a media briefing.

Police investigators were searching the offices of the airport operator and aviation authority in the county of Muan, as well as the office of Jeju Air in Seoul, the South Jeolla provincial police said in a statement.

Investigators planned to seize documents and materials related to the operation and maintenance of the aircraft, as well as the operation of airport facilities, a police official told Reuters.

Jeju Air was cooperating with the police, said Mr Song Kyeong-hoon, a director at the airline, at a media briefing.

Mr Kim E-bae, the airline's chief executive, has been banned from leaving the country as the investigation continues.