King Charles has expressed deep sorrow over the Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea that claimed 179 lives, leaving experts puzzled by the “extremely unusual” circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
In a statement, King Charles extended his condolences:
“My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the horrific air accident at Muan, which resulted in such grievous loss of life. As the people of the Republic of Korea mourn this disaster, the families and loved ones of all the victims are in our prayers.”
The Jeju Air passenger plane, carrying 181 people, veered off the runway at Muan International Airport, collided with a concrete fence, and burst into flames. Only two crew members survived, leaving 179 passengers confirmed dead.
Among the victims were three generations of a single family. One man in his 60s lost five relatives, including his sister-in-law, daughter, son-in-law, and two young grandchildren. The youngest victim of the crash was a three-year-old boy, while the oldest was a 78-year-old man.
Family members at the scene were overcome with grief as the names of the victims were announced. “If this continues, what will I do?” cried one mourner, while another lamented, “I just wanted to see her alive.”
Jeon Je-young, 71, mourned the loss of his daughter, Mi-sook, who was among the passengers. She had recently returned from a Christmas holiday in Bangkok with friends.
“She thought she was coming home,” Jeon said, recalling their final meeting on December 21 when she dropped off a calendar for the new year. Mi-sook leaves behind her husband and teenage daughter.
Watching footage of the crash, Jeon questioned the pilot’s actions:
“The water near the airport is not deep. There are softer fields than this cement runway. Why couldn’t the pilot land there instead?”
Experts are struggling to determine the cause of the crash, calling it “extremely unusual.” Initial findings indicate that the aircraft lost control moments before skidding off the runway.
The tragedy has left a lasting impact on the Muan community and beyond as families seek answers and the aviation industry looks for lessons to prevent future disasters.
