Muan County, South Korea – Families gathered at Muan International Airport in South Korea, mourning the tragic crash of a Jeju Air passenger jet over the weekend. The deadly crash resulted in the loss of all but two individuals on board, making it the deadliest aviation disaster in the country in nearly three decades.
As medics worked to identify the victims, loved ones wept inside the airport, where the names of 146 victims were announced. Efforts continued to identify the remaining 33 bodies, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The airport, typically bustling with travelers, transformed into a scene of sorrow and prayer as families clung to one another in grief. Monks offered solace to the mourning relatives, who sought answers and information from officials.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash, with reports confirming that the pilot had signaled a bird strike before the emergency landing. Footage of the crash showed the plane sliding on its belly, raising questions about the failure of the landing gear to deploy fully.
Recovery teams have retrieved the flight data and voice recorders, while a team of US investigators is assisting South Korean authorities in the inquiry. South Korea’s acting president has declared a period of national mourning and vowed to investigate the country’s airline system thoroughly.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy, mourners pay their respects at a memorial altar in Muan, honoring the victims of the crash. Among the deceased were two Thai nationals and all other passengers were South Korean.
Heartbreaking accounts from families who lost loved ones in the crash shed light on the human toll of the tragedy, leaving many grappling with the sudden and devastating loss. The community, along with government officials and rescue teams, mobilizes to support the bereaved and seek answers in the wake of the aviation disaster.