Korean Plane Crash Passenger’s Last Texts “Bird Stuck in Wing, Unable to Land, Should I Leave My Last Words”
On the morning of December 29, at approximately 9:07 AM, a plane of Jeju Air carrying 181 people from Bangkok crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, resulting in numerous casualties. Initial findings suggest the crash may have been caused by a bird strike, which hindered the aircraft’s ability to land.
A relative of one of the passengers, identified as “A,” who was waiting at the airport, told News1, “I received a message from my family member on board about an issue with the plane, but I have not been able to contact them since.”
Passenger “B” sent a message to “A” at 9:00 AM, stating, “A bird is stuck in the wing, and we can’t land.” When “A” asked for more details, “B” replied one minute later, “Just now. Should I leave a last message?” Communication was then lost.
The plane carried 175 passengers and six crew members.
Rescue Efforts
Fire authorities declared a Level 3 emergency response at 9:16 AM and dispatched 80 rescue personnel and 32 units of equipment from multiple regional fire departments, including Honam and Yeongnam, to focus on search and rescue efforts.
As of 10:30 AM, it has been confirmed that 28 passengers have died, with most others suffering severe injuries. Authorities managed to rescue a male passenger in his 30s and a female crew member in her 20s, who were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
Temporary morgues have been set up on-site, and authorities have established communication with major hospitals in Gwangju to manage the large number of casualties.
Cause of the Crash
Preliminary investigations indicate that the plane attempted to land with a malfunctioning landing gear, possibly caused by a bird strike. The aircraft collided with the airport’s perimeter wall, sparking a fire.
Fire officials began extinguishing the blaze within 43 minutes of the initial report and are continuing to search the wreckage. The airport corporation has restricted access to the crash site.
