Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 series aircraft crashed and burst into flames at Muan International Airport (Image: Getty)
The tragic final words of a passenger aboard the ill-fated Jeju Air flight, which crashed and has so far claimed 179 lives in South Korea, have been disclosed.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, carrying 181 people from Bangkok, Thailand, was attempting to land at South Korea’s Muan International Airport shortly after 9 am (0000 GMT) when it veered off the runway and collided with a wall, erupting into a fiery explosion.
According to the News1 agency, a passenger sent a chilling text to a relative, mentioning that a bird was stuck in the plane’s wing. Their final message read, “Should I say my last words?”
Families of the victims are gathering at the airport as officials persist in their efforts to search through the wreckage.
Senior Transport Ministry official Joo Jong-wan said workers have retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the plane’s black box, which will be examined by government experts investigating the cause of the crash and fire, reports
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What authorities are saying?
Kim E-bae, Jeju Air’s president said in a televised statement accepted the full responsibility as he apologised to bereaved families.
A separate statement from the airline expressed a “deep apology” over the crash and said it will do its “utmost to manage the aftermath of the accident”.
Boeing said in a statement on X it was in contact with Jeju Air and is ready to support the company in dealing with the crash.
It said: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.”
Timeline of the event
8.57am local time: Muan International Airport’s control tower issued a warning over possible bird strikes.
8.58am: The pilot sent a “Mayday” distress signal.
9am: The plane attempted to land on the runway but failed to deploy its landing gear.
9.03am: the aircraft crash-landed on its fuselage, collided with the airport fence, and erupted into flames.
Investigators recover two black boxes from wreckage of plane
The Tourism Ministry of South Korea revealed that investigators have recovered both black boxes from the wreckage: the cockpit voice recorder at 11:30 and the flight data recorder at 14:24.
Eight aircraft accident investigators and nine aviation safety inspectors are conducting initial investigations at the scene.