On December 30, a fan of K-pop group TXT revealed that his parents were among the victims of South Korea’s recent tragic plane crash and used his platform to express frustration over the airport’s lack of accountability and Jeju Air following the accident.
Everyone, I’m sorry for bringing this up. I am a grieving family member of a victim of the Jeju Air plane crash on December 29, 2024. My parents went on a trip to commemorate their wedding and I saw them chatting and having fun they had fun during the trip, but yes they had fun and crashed the plane on their way home Who would have known that an accident would happen?
— Choa (@tsuOa_moa) December 30, 2024
In particular, the fan wrote on the SNS of marriage”. . They stayed in touch and seemed to be having a great time. But who could have ever imagined that the plane taking them home would crash?“
“As soon as I heard the news I rushed to the airport with my relatives. I prayed so hard for their safety. With initial reports showing a low death toll, I clung to hope that they might still be okay. But as the number of survivors remained at just two and the death toll continued to rise, I began to realize: My parents were not going to make it out alive.” they said, adding, “From that moment I began to prepare myself mentally. I wondered if I could live well without them, how I should live, and who I could turn to for help. Even though I still feel like I’m not fully grown up, I’ve decided to act like a real adult now, mature quickly, take care of my younger brother, and live a good life that would make my parents proud.
They then listed various irresponsible actions by the airport and Jeju Air, saying: “Even someone like me, who doesn’t know much about the way the world works, noticed things about how this tragedy was handled that made me very angry.”
For starters, the fan said this “It felt more like they were leaving the deceased behind rather than focusing on saving people. The number of survivors did not increase, only the number of victims increased, and with each increase hope seemed to fade.”
“Secondly, the system seemed really inefficient. We had to wait an incredibly long time. It took years just to identify the bodies, and even after identification, it took five hours to finally see them. When we finished it was already dawn. And we were lucky to find them early: some families are still waiting, while others have not yet found their loved ones.”they added.
Furthermore, the grieving family member highlighted the issue of the freezer for the victims’ bodies, stating: “From day one, the families had requested freezers to store the bodies, and they (the airport and Jeju Air) said they would comply. But the installation was delayed and the process didn’t seem to be going well. We just wanted the bodies to be properly preserved to prevent further damage or decay. With each passing moment, the families’ hearts break even more.”
Eventually, it was revealed that the funeral was supposed to take place on December 30, but the situation on the plane was chaotic, with around 660 body parts found despite the confirmed death toll being 179.
“They were in fragments,” the family member said of the victims, adding: “With the exception of five intact bodies, all the others need to be reassembled and sutured, which should take about ten days. Due to this delay the funeral was also postponed.”
“Now, knowing how long it might take, we are back home and just waiting for updates. I know everyone is doing their best and I’m really grateful for that. I never thought something like this would happen to me. Thanks for listening to my rambling. I will share further updates if I have them,” they concluded with deep sorrow.
Meanwhile, Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, skidded off the runway and caught fire at Muan Airport on December 29. It was confirmed that only two of the 181 people survived the crash and most of the plane’s passengers were families and children (born in the 2010s).
Following the tragedy, Jeju Air’s CEO apologized, but the airline came under harsh criticism for its poor response at the scene.
Furthermore, it was pointed out that the Jeju Air plane that crashed in the tragedy had already had engine problems just 2 days before the accident.
