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Last photos of doomed Jeju Air passengers

Published 3 weeks ago on Dec 30, 2024

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Final Moments of Passengers Before Deadly Crash Claims 179 Lives.

South Korea is in mourning following one of its deadliest aviation disasters, where a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway at Muan Airport, crashing into a concrete barrier and erupting into flames. The tragedy on Sunday claimed 179 lives, with only two crew members surviving the horrific crash.

Youngest Victim Among the Fallen

Among the victims was a three-year-old boy, identified as Go Mo, who was the youngest to perish. Heart-wrenching photos shared on Instagram by his father, Kang Ko, 43, and mother, Jin Lee Seon, 37, depicted the toddler enjoying his first trip abroad to Thailand. A particularly poignant image showed him gazing out of a plane window, filled with wonder, as he traveled to Bangkok.

Mr. Ko, a public relations manager for the Kia Tigers baseball team, had captioned the post: "My son is going abroad for the first time on a night flight, and his first passport has no stamp!" Tributes have since flooded the family’s social media pages, expressing grief and condolences.

Final Messages Hint at Cause of Crash

Chilling text messages sent by a passenger moments before the crash have surfaced, fueling speculation about the cause. One message read: "We can't land because a bird is stuck in the wing," followed by the ominous words: "Should I say my last words?" Communication was lost shortly after.

Investigators are now examining whether a bird strike contributed to the apparent failure of the plane’s landing gear, which reportedly failed to deploy properly during descent.

Tributes Pour In for Victims

Prominent figures and ordinary citizens alike have expressed sorrow over the loss. Sports broadcaster Jung Woo-young paid tribute to Mr. Ko, calling him a skilled and beloved colleague. "We waited for news of a miraculous return, but even our last hope disappeared," he wrote.

Devastation Beyond Borders

The crash’s victims included two Thai nationals, one of whom, 22-year-old Sirithon Chaue, had been fulfilling her dream of visiting Korea and aspiring to work there as an air hostess. Her mother, who has lived in Korea for a decade, was waiting at Muan Airport when the tragedy unfolded.

Sirithon’s uncle shared their grief, saying: "She loved Korea. Her mother initially thought the malfunction was minor until she saw videos of the crash on social media." The family is now arranging to bring her remains home to Thailand.

Families Left Shattered

The crash wiped out entire families. A man in his sixties lost five relatives, including his daughter, her husband, and their young children. Another grieving father, Jeon Je-young, questioned the decisions made during the emergency. "Why couldn't the pilot land in the nearby fields or shallow water instead of the cement runway?" he asked.

Ongoing Recovery and Investigation

Authorities have identified 141 of the 179 deceased, but only five intact bodies have been released to families. Rescue teams have been painstakingly recovering and sorting over 600 body parts from the wreckage.

Families camping in emergency tents at the airport are demanding answers and faster identification of remains. Officials assured them that all recovered remains have been placed in a temporary mortuary, and autopsy results are expected soon.

National Mourning

As South Korea grapples with the scale of the tragedy, the focus remains on uncovering the cause of the crash and supporting grieving families. For now, the poignant final images of the passengers—filled with hope and excitement—serve as a stark reminder of the lives lost too soon.

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