A Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, leaving 179 dead and two survivors in one of South Korea’s deadliest aviation disasters. The survivors are both flight attendants, who are receiving treatment for their injuries, as the investigation into the crash continues.
Jeju Air Flight Crash: Survivors’ Conditions
The two survivors are crew members, flight attendants Lee and Kwon, aged 32 and 25, respectively, rescued from the tail part of the aircraft. All two are receiving medical treatment at Mokpo hospitals due to their injuries and shock.
Lee’s Condition:
Lee reported sustaining a fractured left shoulder, and head injuries as he was conscious. At some point, he just muttered, “What happened?”
A doctor commented, “Lee’s response shows the psychological consequence of the accident. He appears to be almost close to a panic, more or less worried about how the passengers are.
Kwon’s Condition
Kwon has an ankle fracture, scalp laceration and injuries in the abdomen. While her life is not under threat, she continues to be monitored closely by doctors. Doctors emphasized, “The injuries and mental trauma are severe.
Crash Information and Continuing Investigation
Jeju Air, a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, took off from Bangkok and was trying to land in Muan, which is 290 km south of Seoul. Early reports say that the plane could not deploy its landing gear and skidded onto the concrete fence before catching fire.
National Fire Agency officers confirmed 179 victims bodies. They stationed 32 fire trucks and several helicopters as well as more than 1,500 firefighting personnel- police, military- and firefighters who attempted to battle the inferno and tackle rescue work.
Potential Reasons for South Korea Air Tragedy
Here are some likely causes for this tragedy including:
1. Failure to Deploy Landing Gear: The most probable reason is the failure of landing gear to deploy that would have led to the crash.
2. Bird Strike: Bird strikes are one of the risks faced in aviation. Although rarely occurring, they may result in devastating damage.
The Transport Ministry has managed to collect both black boxes, flight data recorder, and the cockpit voice recorder, for the determination of the specific cause.
Effects and National Response
South Korea declares seven-day national mourning period. Acting President Choi Sang-mok instructs emergency safety inspection for all airline operations in South Korea. It has described the crash as one of the worst aviation disasters for South Korea since the crash of Korean Airlines in Guam 1997 that took away 228 lives.
The identification of the victims continues, with 88 identified thus far including two Thai nationals. The Thai Foreign Ministry confirmed deaths of its citizens.
Global Aviation Raises Concerns on Wildlife Hits
Though they are an exception, strikes by animals are a concern in aviation. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States reported over 19,000 wildlife strikes in the year 2023; 3.6 percent of them caused damage to aircraft.
The South Korea plane crash is a clear example of how vital safety measures must be adopted in aviation. While the investigation is still on-going, the nation mourns the tragic loss of 179 lives and holds onto hope for the recovery of the two survivors. It reminds the world of the complications and risks that accompany air travel.
