Flight Summary
On July 28, 2011, at approximately 04:10 Korean Standard Time, Asiana Airlines flight 991 (AAR991), a scheduled cargo flight from Incheon International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, crashed into the sea about 130 km west of Jeju International Airport. The aircraft was a Boeing 747-400F, registered HL7604. The flight departed Incheon at 03:05 KST and was climbing to its cruising altitude when the crew reported a fire on the main cargo deck. The last radar contact was at 04:10, after which the aircraft descended rapidly and disappeared from radar.
Investigation
The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) conducted the investigation, with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board (U.S.), Japan Transport Safety Board, and experts from France, China, Singapore, Taiwan, and the UAE. The flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) were not recovered despite extensive searches of the wreckage site. As a result, this interim report presents factual information gathered up to July 2012 but does not reach a conclusion.
Wreckage and Search
The wreckage was located in international waters approximately 130 km west of Jeju. Search operations focused on recovering the flight recorders, but the underwater locator beacons were not found. Recovered wreckage included portions of the fuselage, cargo pallets, and containers. Examination revealed fire damage concentrated in the aft section of the main cargo deck, with evidence of intense heat and melting of aluminum structures.
Dangerous Goods
The cargo manifest included several dangerous goods, notably lithium-ion batteries (classified as Class 9), photo-resist chemicals, and corrosive liquids. The batteries were packed in accordance with regulations, but the investigation examined their potential role in the fire. However, no causal link has been established.
Emergency Response
The crew declared an emergency and reported a fire on the main deck. Air traffic control provided guidance, but the aircraft lost contact shortly afterward. Emergency locator transmitters were not activated. The search and rescue effort involved Korean and international assets, but no survivors were located.
Current Status
As of this interim report, the ARAIB continues to analyze the wreckage and cargo records. The absence of flight recorders limits the ability to determine the sequence of events. No probable cause has been determined at this stage.