Jeju Air plane crash death toll rises to 179, including 2 Thai women
The death toll from the Jeju Air plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea yesterday, December 29, has risen to 179, including two Thai women.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok bound for Muan Airport in South Korea, reportedly crashed into a wall at the destination airport at around 9am yesterday. The aircraft was carrying 181 people, including 175 passengers and six cabin crew members.
A fire broke out on the plane, but two members of the cabin crew, a man and a woman, managed to escape. The fire was brought under control at approximately 1pm local time.
A firefighter, Lee Jung-Hyun, revealed to Reuters that both survivors were rescued from the plane’s tail section. He further added that this was the only part of the aircraft that retained some of its original shape, while the rest of the plane was completely destroyed.
Local authorities later confirmed that no additional survivors had been found. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand also confirmed that two Thai women aboard the flight were among the deceased.
The two Thai women were identified as 22 year old university student Sirithon “Mei” Chaue and 45 year old Jongluk Doungmanee.
Sirithon travelled to South Korea to visit her mother, who works there. Jongluk had been working in South Korea for five to six years and married her South Korean husband three years ago. She recently returned to Thailand to visit her family before the tragic accident.
Unknown cause of accident
The majority of the deceased passengers were aged between 40 and 60. The BBC reported yesterday that so far, officials have only managed to identify 22 people on board.
The Chief Executive Officer of Jeju Air, Kim E-bae, later issued an official statement expressing condolences for the tragic accident. The CEO made his statement in Thai, he said…
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the deceased and their families. We await the official investigation results from the relevant authorities to determine the precise cause of the incident.
Regardless of the cause, as the President of Jeju Air, we take full responsibility for this incident. We assure you that Jeju Air will do everything in its power to support the victims and the families of the deceased. Furthermore, we will fully cooperate with government authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of this tragic accident.
We would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the deceased and offer our full support to their families during this difficult time.”
Regarding the cause of the accident, some media outlets reported that the crash may have resulted from a failure during landing after the plane collided with a flock of birds. However, the exact cause remains under investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY: Jeju Air flight disaster claims 28 lives in South Korea (video)
Jeju Air’s flight from Thailand tragically ended in disaster after skidding off the runway at Muan International Airport in South Korea. At least 28 people have lost their lives in the incident, as reported by prominent South Korean media. The plane, which departed from Bangkok, encountered difficulties during its landing and subsequently veered off the runway, colliding with a barrier.
The ill-fated flight was carrying a total of 181 individuals, including 175 passengers and six crew members. As the aircraft attempted to land in the southwestern region of South Korea, it disastrously slipped from the runway’s confines and struck a wall, leading to unfortunate fatalities, reported KhaoSod.
“At this moment, rescue teams are diligently working to assist survivors,” according to statements from local officials. The urgency of the situation is palpable as officials expedite their investigation to uncover the cause behind this tragic accident.
BREAKING: Video shows crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 in South Korea. 181 people on board pic.twitter.com/9rQUC0Yxt8
— BNO News (@BNONews) December 29, 2024
In related news, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane tragically crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, with initial investigations suggesting a bird strike as the possible cause. The incident occurred on December 25, leaving 42 people dead but miraculously 25 individuals survived the ordeal.
The plane, which had departed from Baku, Azerbaijan, was en route to Grozny, Chechnya. Due to dense fog in Grozny, the flight was forced to alter its course. This change in route, however, did not prevent the tragic accident that unfolded shortly thereafter.
Emergency services in Kazakhstan swiftly responded to the crash site, battling flames engulfing the wreckage. The Ministry of Emergency Situations in Kazakhstan confirmed that 25 people survived the crash, with 22 of them being transported to the hospital for further treatment. Despite the tragedy, the survival of these individuals is being seen as a miracle.
“The cause might have been a collision with a flock of birds,” stated the airline as they began urgent investigations into the incident.
