HUNDREDS of grieving families have gathered at Muan International Airport in South Korea, demanding answers and mourning their loved ones following the devastating Jeju Air plane crash on Sunday.
Among the 179 victims were two Thai nationals, Sirinthorn Ja-ue, a 22-year-old college student from Chiang Rai, and Boonchuay Duangmanee, a 45-year-old mother of two from Udon Thani province.
Sirinthorn was traveling to South Korea to celebrate the New Year with her mother, who had married a Korean man. A bright student studying airline business management at Bangkok University, she was just three months away from graduation and dreamed of becoming a flight attendant. Her family had been eagerly anticipating her graduation ceremony.
Boonchuay Duangmanee had lived in South Korea for seven years with her Korean husband and worked in agriculture. She had recently returned to Thailand with her husband in early December before flying back to South Korea on December 29th. Her husband recalled their final conversation: “See you tomorrow morning. I never imagined that would be the last time.”
Her grieving father said, “I hope the government can offer some assistance. I want to bring my daughter home and perform the proper religious rites.”
The Thai Embassy in Seoul has been actively assisting the families, coordinating with South Korean authorities to ensure the repatriation of the victims’ remains and necessary documentation. The embassy has lowered its flag to half-staff in mourning until January 4th and invited Thai nationals in Korea to pay their respects at memorial altars in 17 cities and provinces.
Deadliest crash on South Korean soil
The Boeing 737-800 was flying from Bangkok to Muan International Airport when it skidded off the runway and crashed into a wall shortly after 9:00am local time on Sunday.
Of the 181 people onboard, 179 tragically lost their lives, including four crew members. Two survivors were pulled from the wreckage.
This disaster marks the deadliest plane crash in South Korea’s history.
Further safety concerns emerge
In a concerning development, another Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 flight was forced to turn back to Seoul on Monday due to a mechanical issue with its landing gear.
The aircraft, which departed Gimpo International Airport at 6:35am local time, returned less than an hour later after the defect was detected.
Thirty-nine of Jeju Air’s 41 planes are Boeing 737-800 models.
Officials have since announced that one of the black boxes retrieved from the crash site will be sent to the United States for analysis, as the flight data recorder was deemed unrecoverable domestically due to damage. The analysis will be conducted in collaboration with the US National Transportation Safety Board.
Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation, Joo Jong-wan, confirmed that while the cockpit voice recorder’s initial extraction was completed, the flight data recorder was found with a missing connector, requiring overseas analysis.
Investigators are focusing on the plane’s landing gear, which reportedly deployed correctly during the first landing attempt but failed on the second. Additionally, attention is being given to a concrete barrier at the end of the runway, which video footage shows the aircraft colliding with before bursting into flames.
All victims identified
Authorities have now completed the identification of all victims, a process slowed by the extent of the damage to the bodies. Acting President Choi Sang-mok confirmed that more remains have been handed over to families for funerals.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at a memorial altar at Muan International Airport on Wednesday, a public holiday in South Korea. The sheer volume of attendees caused mobile networks to overload, and officials had to redirect people to other memorial sites.
Inside the airport, medical stations have been set up to administer IV drips to grieving relatives who have been unable to eat due to extreme stress.
Heartbreaking loss for families
Among the grieving families is Shin Gyu-ho, who lost his two grandsons and son-in-law. While his son-in-law’s body has been identified, Shin was told that his grandsons were “too scattered to be recognised.”
His daughter and granddaughter remain secluded in a privacy tent at the airport, unable to cope with the devastating loss.
For Maeng Gi-su, a celebratory family trip ended in heartbreak when his nephew and two grandsons perished in the crash.
“I can’t believe the entire family has just disappeared,” said Maeng, 78. “My heart aches so much.”
The victims, aged between three and 78, included five children under ten years old. The youngest was a three-year-old boy.
Many passengers had been celebrating the festive season in Thailand and were returning home when tragedy struck.
Stories of grief and resilience
Jongluk Doungmanee, who had been working in South Korea, was returning home after visiting her family in Thailand. Her father, already battling heart disease, was devastated by the news.
“It is unbearable for him. This was his youngest daughter,” said her cousin, Pornphichaya Chalermsin.
Another victim, Mi-Sook, was identified through fingerprints. Her father, Jeon Je-young, said their final meeting was on 21 December when she brought food and a calendar for the coming year.
“My daughter, who is only in her mid-40s, ended up like this,” he said.
As the nation mourns, families wait for answers, closure, and the safe return of their loved ones’ remains.
Investigators, including experts from Boeing and US authorities, continue their work at the crash site, focusing on the landing gear, runway conditions, and final communications from the cockpit. A comprehensive analysis of the black box data and crash evidence is expected to provide further clarity on the cause of this devastating accident.
Photo:
Thai victims: Boonchuay Duangmanee, a 45-year-old mother of two and Sirinthorn Ja-ue, a 22-year-old college student
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
