Pornphichaya ChalermsinA festive journey to Thailand was imagined to be a celebration for Maeng Gi-Su’s nephew and his nephew’s two sons, who had been marking the top of their school entrance exams.
As an alternative, it resulted in tragedy when all three died on the Jeju Air airplane that crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday morning, killing 179 of the 181 folks onboard.
“I can not consider your entire household has simply disappeared,” Maeng, 78, advised the BBC.
“My coronary heart aches a lot.”
The household had been travelling from Bangkok to Muan Worldwide Airport, which skidded off the runway after touching down and crashed right into a wall shortly after 09:00 native time (00:00 GMT) on Sunday.
All the passengers on the Boeing 737-800 died, making it the deadliest airplane crash on South Korean soil.
4 crew members had been among the many victims, whereas two had been rescued from the wreckage alive.
The 179 passengers on flight 7C2216 had been aged between three and 78 years previous, though most had been of their 40s, 50s and 60s, in accordance with Yonhap information company. Two Thai nationals are among the many useless and the remainder are believed to be South Korean, authorities have stated.
5 of the individuals who died had been youngsters beneath the age of 10, with the youngest passenger being a three-year-old boy.
One man in his sixties stated 5 of his relations spanning three generations had been on the airplane, together with his sister-in-law, his daughter, her husband and their younger youngsters, in accordance with Yonhap information company.
Most of the passengers had been celebrating the Christmas holidays in Thailand and had been returning residence.
The cousin of 1 sufferer, Jongluk Doungmanee, advised BBC Thai she was “shocked” when she heard the information.
“I had goosebumps. I could not consider it,” Pornphichaya Chalermsin stated.
Jongluk had been dwelling in South Korea for the previous 5 years working within the agriculture business. She often travelled to Thailand twice a yr through the holidays to go to her ailing father and two youngsters – aged 7 and 15 – from a former marriage.
She had spent over two weeks this time along with her husband, who had returned to South Korea earlier in December.
Her father, who suffers from a coronary heart illness, was “devastated” when he came upon about her dying, stated Pornphichaya.
“It’s insufferable for him. This was his youngest daughter”, she stated, including that every one three of his youngsters work overseas.
One other 71-year-old father, Jeon Je-young, advised the Reuters information company that his daughter Mi-Sook, who was recognized by her fingerprints, had been on her approach residence after travelling with mates to Bangkok for the festivities.
“My daughter, who is simply in her mid-40s, ended up like this,” he stated, including that he had final seen her on 21 December, when she introduced some meals and subsequent yr’s calendar to his home – that may change into their final second collectively.
Mi-Sook leaves behind a husband and teenage daughter.
“That is unbelievable”, stated Jeon.
One girl stated her sister, who had been having a troublesome time determined to go to Thailand as life started to enhance for her.
“She’s had so many hardships and gone touring as a result of her scenario was solely simply starting to enhance,” she advised Yonhap information company.
The 2 flight attendants who survived the crash had been discovered within the tail finish of the airplane, essentially the most intact a part of the wreckage.
One was a 33-year-old man, with the surname Lee, who was rushed to a hospital in Mokpo, about 25km (15.5 mi) south of the airport, however was later transferred to Ewha Womans College Seoul Hospital within the capital, Yonhap information company reported.
“Once I awoke, I had already been rescued,” he advised docs on the hospital, in accordance with its director Ju Woong, who spoke throughout a press briefing.
The survivor, who suffered a number of fractures, is receiving particular care because of the threat of after-effects, together with whole paralysis, Ju stated.
The opposite survivor, a 25-year-old feminine flight attendant with the surname Koo, is being handled at Asan Medical Middle in jap Seoul, Yonhap added.
She has sustained head and ankle accidents however is reportedly in a steady situation.
‘I noticed thick, darkish smoke – then an explosion’
It isn’t but recognized precisely what brought about the catastrophe, however a lot of eye witnesses say they may see that the airplane was in hassle earlier than the crash.
Restaurant proprietor Im Younger-Hak stated he initially thought it was an oil tanker accident.
“I went outdoors and noticed thick, darkish smoke. After that, I heard a loud explosion, not from the crash itself. Then there have been extra explosions – at the least seven,” he advised Reuters.
“We really feel unhealthy when accidents occur on the opposite aspect of the world, however this occurred proper right here. It is traumatic.”
Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who was staying close to to the airport, advised native media he noticed a spark on the fitting wing shortly earlier than the crash.
Kim Yong-cheol, 70, stated the airplane did not land initially and circled again to attempt once more.
He added that he witnessed “black smoke billowing into the sky” after listening to a “loud explosion”, Yonhap company reported.
One firefighter who was dispatched to the scene advised Reuters he had by no means seen one thing “on this scale”.
ReutersBBC reporters on the bottom have stated the sounds of relations crying echoed by the terminal on Sunday night, whereas others are indignant at how lengthy it’s taking to determine the our bodies.
A whole bunch stay at Muan Worldwide Airport ready for family members to be recognized.
Some have given DNA saliva samples to officers to assist determine the our bodies of victims, and the federal government has provided funeral companies and non permanent housing to bereaved households.
A nationwide interval of mourning has additionally been declared for the following seven days.
However for all of the family members of those that died, many questions nonetheless stay – not least the reason for the crash, and whether or not it might have been averted.
“The water close to the airport is just not deep,” Jeon advised Reuters.
“(There) are softer fields than this cement runway. Why could not the pilot land there as an alternative?”
His daughter Mi-Sook was nearly residence, so noticed no motive to name and depart a closing message, he says.
“She was nearly residence – she thought she was coming residence”.
Extra Reporting by BBC Thai’s Thanyaporn Buathong
