MUAN, SOUTH KOREA, Dec 31 (V7N) – A nation grieves as the harrowing crash of Jeju Air Flight 2216 has claimed the lives of 179 passengers, with only two flight attendants pulled from the wreckage alive. The tragedy unfolded when the Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 people on a route from Thailand to South Korea, issued a mayday call before crash-landing at Muan International Airport, colliding with a barrier and erupting in flames.

Flags across South Korea are flying at half-mast during a seven-day mourning period, as officials and investigators work tirelessly to uncover the cause of the disaster. Acting President Choi Sang-mok, just days into his tenure, has called for an overhaul of the country’s aviation safety protocols, labeling the catastrophe a "turning point."

Investigations Intensify as Grieving Families Await Answers

US experts, including representatives from Boeing, have joined South Korean officials at the crash site, where two black boxes have been recovered from the charred remains of the aircraft. Early analysis has begun, but progress is slow due to damage to the flight data recorder.

“Surface contamination cleaning is complete, but the data storage unit’s condition remains under review,” said Deputy Civil Aviation Minister Joo Jong-wan, noting that a missing connector may complicate efforts to extract critical flight data.

Heartbreak and Heroism at Ground Zero

At Muan International Airport, investigators are meticulously combing through the wreckage while grieving families grapple with unimaginable loss. Memorials have sprung up near the site, with mourners leaving food, flowers, and heartfelt messages.

“Captain, first officer, and crew members, thank you for doing your best to save the passengers. I pray for your eternal rest,” read one letter pinned to a fence near the airport.

Among the victims was an extended family of nine, traveling together to celebrate the patriarch’s first-ever overseas trip for his birthday. A sole surviving family member, unable to join the journey, is left to cope with the devastating loss of his wife and three children.

"Yesterday, the village chief reported that he was in utter despair, saying, ‘I should have gone with them and died with them,’” local broadcaster KBC reported.

First Bodies Released to Bereaved Families

Efforts to identify all the victims continue, but authorities have begun handing over remains to families for funerals.

“Of the 179 victims, the bodies of four have been released, and for 28 others, funeral preparations may begin today with family consent,” said Transport Minister Park Sang-woo.

Memorial altars have been set up across the nation, including one at Muan airport, where grieving relatives oversee arrangements amidst seas of black-and-white funeral flowers.

Aviation Safety Under Scrutiny

The Jeju Air disaster has sparked widespread calls for reform in South Korea’s aviation safety systems. Acting President Choi has urged a “thorough reexamination” of operational protocols, demanding immediate improvements.

As the nation marks the final day of 2024, Choi reflected, “Today is a moment to honor those we lost, to reflect on the challenges we’ve faced, and to unite as we prepare for a safer, brighter future.”

With the investigation still in its early stages, South Korea waits with bated breath for answers—hoping to honor the lives lost and prevent such tragedies in the future.

END/WD/RH/