A passenger on the doomed Jeju Air flight sent a chilling final text moments before the plane crashed into a concrete barrier in South Korea, killing 179 people. The flight, which had departed from Thailand and was heading to Muan International Airport on Sunday morning, had encountered a bird strike. The passenger texted a family member, saying, “Should I say my last words?” and reported that a bird had become lodged in the planeβs wing, as per News1 agency.
The Boeing 737-800, a twin-engine jet, crashed and erupted into flames after skidding along the runway without functioning landing gear. Two crew members survived, but all other passengers are presumed dead. Among the fatalities were 85 women, 84 men, and 10 unidentified individuals, as reported by the South Korean fire agency.
The two survivors were rescued and are not in critical condition. Most of the victims were South Korean nationals, with two passengers from Thailand. Around 1,570 rescue personnel, including firefighters, police officers, and soldiers, were sent to the site.
Disturbing video footage showed the plane bursting into flames after attempting an emergency landing without landing gear, sparking a massive explosion. The plane had initially tried to land but had to abort the attempt due to the landing gear malfunction. Authorities are investigating several potential causes, including the bird strike, as the airport’s control tower had warned the aircraft about it just before landing and advised the pilot to land in an alternative area.
