The flight data recorder was found at 11.30am (10.30am Singapore time), about two and a half hours after the crash, and the cockpit voice recorder was found at 2.24pm, according to South Korea’s transport ministry.
“That gives you all the parameters of all the systems of the plane. The heartbeat of the airplane is on the flight data recorder,” Thomas said.
“The voice recorder will probably provide the most interesting analysis of what went on on this tragic crash.”
Within a few minutes of the control tower issuing a bird strike warning, pilots declared mayday and then attempted to land, officials said, although it was not clear whether the aircraft had hit any birds.
Experts said it seemed unlikely a bird strike would have caused the landing gear to malfunction.
“A bird strike is not unusual, problems with an undercarriage are not unusual. Bird strikes happen far more often, but typically they don’t cause the loss of an airplane by themselves,” Thomas said.
Australian airline safety expert Geoffrey Dell said: “I’ve never seen a bird strike prevent the landing gear from being extended.”
Australian aviation consultant Trevor Jensen said fire and emergency services would normally be ready for a belly-landing “so this appears to be unplanned”.
