Lagatar24 Desk
Seoul: A devastating aviation disaster struck South Korea as a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 people crashed at Muan International Airport on Sunday, leaving only two survivors. The incident marks one of the deadliest plane crashes in the nation’s history. Both survivors, identified as flight attendants, were pulled from the aircraft’s tail section, disoriented and in shock.
One of the survivors, a 32-year-old attendant named Lee, was stationed at the rear of the plane during the landing. After being rescued, Lee was rushed to Mokpo Korean Hospital. Disoriented and repeating, “What happened?” and “Why am I here?”, Lee’s psychological distress was evident. Medical professionals indicated that his reaction likely stemmed from the overwhelming trauma of the crash. Lee sustained a fractured left shoulder and head injuries but remained conscious.
The second survivor, 25-year-old Kwon, is undergoing treatment at Mokpo Central Hospital. Kwon, who reported severe pain in her head, ankle, and abdomen, suffered a scalp laceration, a fractured ankle, and potential abdominal injuries. Medical staff confirmed that her life is not in danger but emphasized the significant physical and psychological trauma she is enduring.
Investigative Insights into the Jeju Air Crash
Preliminary investigations suggest the tragedy occurred when the plane’s landing gear failed to deploy. The aircraft skidded off the runway and struck a concrete fence, igniting a massive fire. Emergency responders from the National Fire Agency confirmed 179 fatalities, with only the two flight attendants surviving.
The ill-fated flight had departed from Bangkok and was attempting to land in Muan, approximately 290 kilometers south of Seoul. Authorities are now conducting a detailed probe to determine the exact cause of the malfunction and to prevent such incidents in the future.
