Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story

Gia NhiDec 30, 2024 at 15:28

 3  |  1 Discuss  |  Report

Follow on

His daughter, Mi Sook, died after the tragedy. The father still cannot believe what happened. "When I saw the video, the plane was out of control," the 71-year-old said.

"The pilot seemed to have no choice. My daughter was only in her 40s, how could her life end like that? I can't believe it."

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story - Photo 1

He stressed that Mi Sook was a “warm child.” The last time they saw each other was on December 21, when she brought food and a 2025 calendar to the family. “She was very good, even though she was far away, she still texted me to remind me to eat on time,” Mr. Jeon said, showing the last text messages he had with his daughter on his phone.

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story - Photo 2

A plane crash in South Korea claimed the lives of 179 people on December 29. Jeju Air Flight 2216 landed on its belly, skidded off the runway, hit a wall and exploded at Muan International Airport. The flight from Bangkok (Thailand) had 175 passengers and 6 crew members. Only 2 flight attendants survived because they were sitting in the back of the plane.

At the scene, many relatives of the victims lost control, immersed in grief and anger when the authorities read the names of the deceased. Many people screamed, cried and collapsed on the airport floor, where they had come to take their loved ones home.

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story - Photo 3

Investigators have collected saliva samples from the family for DNA testing and identification. Mr. Jeon’s daughter was returning home from a Christmas trip to Bangkok with friends. Her husband and two daughters nearly fainted at the airport.

"The lake near the airport is not deep. The rice fields are softer than the cement runway. Why don't pilots land there?", Mr. Jeon questioned.

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story - Photo 4

Firefighters said the crash left the plane “almost completely destroyed”. “The collision was followed by an explosion, and most of the passengers were thrown out of the plane and died, although two crew members survived,” said Yeom Dong Bu, a Muan firefighter.

"We have seen similar tragedies like car crashes, fires, but this is the first time we have lost so many lives," he told Reuters.

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story - Photo 5

Mr Jeon's daughter was returned to her family after fingerprinting. They were preparing for a funeral near the town of Gwangju, where Mi Sook lived. "She was almost home so I didn't think it was necessary to call her family. She didn't leave a word before she left. Now she's coming home," Mr Jeon said, tears welling up in his eyes.

David Learmount, a leading UK air safety expert, said the collision between the plane and the wall at the end of the runway was the "defining moment" in the disaster. "There was no legitimate reason for the wall to be there. I think it would be almost criminal to build a permanent wall there," he said.

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story - Photo 6

Mr Learmount said those on board the flight would have had a better chance of surviving after the plane hit the ground, even though the Boeing 737-800 failed to lower its landing gear and slid on its belly at high speed. "The pilot did a very good job landing the plane under the circumstances. It was going very fast, but it was still intact," he said.

However, the plane almost completely disintegrated and caught fire after hitting a concrete wall. "Many people were thrown out when the plane hit the wall, with almost no chance of survival," an official from the Jeonnam Provincial Fire Department said during a meeting with relatives of the passengers on December 29. "The wall should not have been there," Mr. Learmount emphasized.

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story - Photo 7

Muan International Airport is operated by the state-owned Korea Airport Corporation. After opening in 2007, it has become an important transportation hub in the southwestern region of the country.

Satellite images show concrete walls that have been present at both ends of the runway, near the security fence, for years. They house the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which helps pilots land safely at night or in poor visibility.

Jeju Air Tragedy: Heartbreaking Scene of Father Watching His Daughter Die, Heartbreaking Story - Photo 8

Did you LIKE this article?
Yes
No

Related topics

Jeju Air: Two days, two incidents, same type of plane, is this a coincidence?

Jeju Air: Two days, two incidents, same type of plane, is this a coincidence?
Khanh Phạm10:25:19 30/12/2024
After the horrific tragedy that claimed the lives of 179 people in Muan on December 29, Jeju Air continued with another worrying incident. Another plane, the same Boeing 737-800 model as the crashed plane, had to make an emergency landing due to a landing gear problem.

 1  |  0 Discuss  |  

Jeju Air plane tragedy, 85 people died, Korea - Thailand join hands to investigate?

Jeju Air plane tragedy, 85 people died, Korea - Thailand join hands to investigate?
Đông Nguyễn12:53:43 29/12/2024
A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea. The plane skidded off the runway, crashed into a fence and burst into flames. The death toll has risen to at least 85 and is expected to rise.

 2  |  0 Discuss  |  

A football team of more than 30 people faced "death" because of a plane incident, but was "saved" because of one thing.

A football team of more than 30 people faced "death" because of a plane incident, but was "saved" because of one thing.
An Nhi15:44:33 13/01/2024
Not long after the plane took off, the passengers began to feel tired and sleepy. They fainted without knowing that they were narrowly facing death.

 4  |  1 Discuss  |  

The 'King of Speed' actor and 2 daughters died due to plane crash, viral close-up clip

The 'King of Speed' actor and 2 daughters died due to plane crash, viral close-up clip
Châu Anh09:47:46 07/01/2024
The crash of a plane in waters near Bequia Island killed speed king Christian Oliver, his two young daughters and the pilot. Later, a clip of the moment the plane crashed was shared, leaving everyone in mourning.

 2  |  1 Discuss  |  

Nguyen Quang Dat - 'The youngest captain in Vietnam' was rumored to have died in a plane crash

Nguyen Quang Dat - 'The youngest captain in Vietnam' was rumored to have died in a plane crash
Nu1eafng14:12:25 24/03/2022
Captain Nguyen Quang Dat was suddenly called in a tragic plane crash in China. Recently, a tragic plane accident in China that killed many people has received great attention. Three days after the incident, relatives of the victims' families always prayed, hoping for a miracle...

 3  |  0 Discuss  |  

Gautam Adani - Indian billionaire escaped the "scythe of death" 2 times, causing shock

Gautam Adani - Indian billionaire escaped the "scythe of death" 2 times, causing shock
Hà Hà19:51:06 05/08/2021
Besides the title of Asia's second-richest billionaire with a huge fortune, Gautam Adani has experienced two life-threatening situations: a kidnapping for ransom and a terrorist attack in a hotel. Whenever mentioning this event, people often joke that "Death fell asleep" so...

 4  |  0 Discuss  |  

Diep Tu My "Nuuuu Bo Doan" is the most fiery of Chau Tinh Tri movies, when he gets old, he doesn't recognize it

Diep Tu My "Nuuuu Bo Doan" is the most fiery of Chau Tinh Tri movies, when he gets old, he doesn't recognize it
Hu00e0 Hu00e011:45:25 02/08/2021
In the "cinema universe" Chau Tinh Tri has many beautiful beauties touching people, in which Diep Tu My was once known as the most fiery beauty. But after the sudden death of her partner, the actress lived alone and quietly in her late afternoon. Diep Tu My was born in 1965 in...

 3  |  0 Discuss  |  

Black box of SJ-182 plane found in Indonesia | Revealing the secrets of Sriwijaya Air?

Black box of SJ-182 plane found in Indonesia | Revealing the secrets of Sriwijaya Air?
team youtuber10:57:45 13/01/2021
Antara news agency reported that at around 4:30 pm on January 12, the Indonesian Navy's diving team recovered the black box recording the flight data of the plane. SJ-182 is operated by Sriwijaya Air. The team of divers found the black box about 23 meters below the sea surface. The black box has been delivered to the dock

 3  |  0 Discuss  |