A loved one of several victims of the Jeju Air crash has expressed that his heart is aching.
Warning: This article contains graphic images, videos, and descriptions that may be distressing to some readers.
A devastating plane crash in South Korea has resulted in the deaths of 179 out of the 181 people onboard, and some of the victims’ loved ones are now speaking out.
The incident occurred earlier today (December 29) at approximately 9:00 am local time, when Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800, attempted an emergency landing at Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Korea. The aircraft had taken off from Suvarnabhumi Airport near Bangkok, Thailand, at around 2:00 am local time before the crash occurred.
Harrowing footage from the airport shows the moment the passenger plane attempted to land on the runway, only to skid across and collide with a wall, eventually bursting into smoke and flames.
Reports indicate that the front landing gear of the plane failed to deploy, forcing the pilot to make a crash landing. Joo Jong-wan, Director of the Aviation Policy Division at South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, told NBC News that the pilot “declared mayday after issuing the bird strike alert.”
An investigation into the tragedy is still underway, and the crash marks South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster in history.
At the time of writing, recovery efforts continue, with Yonhap News Agency reporting that the runway will remain closed until New Year’s Day as teams analyze the wreckage.
The crash has claimed the lives of 179 people out of the 181 passengers and crew members onboard. The two survivors were rushed to the hospital, and now, loved ones of some victims are speaking out.
Maeng Gi-su’s nephew and his nephew’s two sons had been onboard the flight, returning from a holiday to celebrate the youngest son’s completion of his college entrance exams. The 78-year-old uncle shared his grief with the BBC, saying: “I can’t believe the entire family has just disappeared. My heart aches so much.”
A cousin of another passenger onboard the flight told the BBC she had “goosebumps” upon hearing of the crash. “I couldn’t believe it… when the news said one of the victims was from Udon Thani, I was even more surprised,” she said.
The government of South Korea has declared a national mourning period of seven days in response to the tragedy.
In a statement, Boeing expressed its support, saying: “We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”
Jeju Air has also issued an apology, displaying a banner at the top of its website that reads: “We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident. We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused.”
