The Thai ambassador to South Korea has confirmed the deaths of two Thai nationals, identified as Jongluk Doungmanee, 45, and Sirithon Chaue, 22, following a devastating plane crash.
A Jeju Air flight carrying 181 individuals from Thailand to South Korea crashed upon landing at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning, colliding with a barrier and igniting a massive fire. Tragically, all but two of those on board are feared deceased, with the two Thai nationals among the 179 confirmed dead.
The ambassador extended heartfelt condolences and stated, “I wish to express my deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives or were injured in this tragic event. The Royal Thai Embassy is verifying the status of Thai citizens involved and is prepared to provide necessary assistance. Affected citizens can reach the embassy’s emergency contacts.”
In a public statement, she emphasized the embassy’s readiness to support those impacted by the incident. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by this disaster. We hope for strength and resilience during this challenging time,” she added.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra conveyed her condolences via a social media update, instructing the Foreign Affairs Ministry to expedite assistance to the families of the victims and to keep her updated on developments.
Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub confirmed the Prime Minister’s orders for the Thai embassy in Seoul to coordinate with victims’ families, ensuring constant updates on the situation.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit reported that agencies under the ministry stand ready to assist the victims’ families. He directed aviation industry stakeholders to reinforce safety measures in accordance with international standards.
Initial investigations mentioned a bird strike and adverse weather conditions as potential causes of the crash, which left the aircraft “almost completely destroyed.” However, some experts expressed skepticism, noting the sunny weather and questioning the failure of the landing gear deployment.
Footage captured the Jeju Air plane landing on its belly at Muan International Airport, sliding off the runway while smoke billowed from the engines, before crashing into a wall and erupting in flames.
According to local fire officials, “Passengers were ejected from the aircraft upon collision with the wall, drastically reducing survival chances.” They further added, “The plane is severely damaged, complicating the identification of victims, which is taking considerable time as we recover remains.”
Only two individuals, both flight attendants, survived the crash. By early afternoon, the fire department confirmed the unfortunate death toll had risen to 124.
Witnesses observed the charred wreckage of the aircraft at Muan Airport, located about 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul, while emergency responders worked diligently in the area.
The crash occurred at 9:03 AM during the landing of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which had 175 passengers aboard, including the two Thai nationals, and six crew members. Reports indicated that the control tower issued a bird strike warning just three minutes prior to the aircraft’s landing attempt.
Additionally, records show that two minutes before the crash, the pilot issued a Mayday call. When questioned about the potential impact of the runway length, officials indicated that this is likely not a contributing factor to the incident.
