Anger as households wait to see our bodies after airplane crash in South Korea

Hundreds of mourners camped out at Muan International Airport in South Korea are livid that they’ve but to see the our bodies of their family members who died after a Jeju Air airplane landed on Sunday.

Amid shouts of anger, Police Superintendent General Na Won-o defined that the delay was as a result of officers took the time to fastidiously establish all 179 victims, whose our bodies have been severely broken within the accident.

“Can you promise me they are going to be put again collectively?” a middle-aged man requested, visibly excited.

Another particular person known as for the victims’ stays to be launched as they have been, however Na mentioned officers wished to do their finest to gather and match as many our bodies as they may.

These unhappy particulars left some relations in tears, whereas most sat in shocked silence, exhausted.

The Boeing 737-800, which was touring from Bangkok to Muan International Airport, skidded off the runway after touchdown and he crashed into a wall shortly after 09:00 native time (00:00 GMT) on Sunday.

The crash killed 179 of the 181 folks on board, making it the deadliest airline crash on South Korean soil.

Among the victims have been 4 crew members, whereas two have been rescued alive from the wreckage.

Among the relations of the victims spoken to by the BBC was Shin Gyu-ho, who misplaced his two grandchildren and son-in-law.

Frustrated by the size of the identification course of, the 64-year-old mentioned he angrily thought of destroying the PA system used for police briefings.

While the physique of Shin’s son-in-law was recognized, he was advised that his two nephews — a highschool sophomore and a senior — have been “too scattered to acknowledge.”

Her daughter and granddaughter are holed up in a personal tent on the airport as a result of “they cannot hold it collectively,” she mentioned.

For Maeng Gi-su’s grandson and his two sons, a celebratory journey to Thailand to mark the tip of his school entrance exams resulted in tragedy when all three died on the flight.

“I can not imagine the entire household simply disappeared,” Maeng, 78, advised the BBC.

“My coronary heart hurts a lot.”

The 179 individuals who died on Flight 7C2216 ranged in age from three to 78, though most have been of their 40s, 50s and 60s, based on Yonhap information company. The victims embody two Thai residents and the others are believed to be South Koreans, authorities mentioned.

Five of the individuals who died have been youngsters below the age of 10, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old.

A person in his 60s mentioned 5 members of his household, spanning three generations, had been on the airplane, together with his sister-in-law, her daughter, her husband and their younger youngsters, based on Yonhap information company.

Many passengers had celebrated the Christmas holidays in Thailand and have been returning house.

The cousin of one of many victims, Jongluk Doungmanee, advised BBC Thai she was “shocked” when she heard the information.

“I had goosebumps. I could not imagine it,” Pornphichaya Chalermsin mentioned.

Jongluk has lived in South Korea for the previous 5 years working within the agricultural sector. He normally traveled to Thailand twice a yr throughout holidays to go to his ailing father and two youngsters – aged 7 and 15 – from a earlier marriage.

This time she had spent greater than two weeks along with her husband, who returned to South Korea in early December.

Her father, who suffers from coronary heart illness, was “devastated” when he realized of her dying, Pornphichaya mentioned.

“It’s insufferable for him. This was his youngest daughter,” she mentioned, including that every one three of her youngsters work overseas.

Another 71-year-old father, Jeon Je-young, advised the Reuters information company that his daughter Mi-Sook, recognized by fingerprints, was returning house after touring with pals to Bangkok for the celebrations.

“My daughter, who simply turned 45, ended up like this,” he mentioned, including that he final noticed her on Dec. 21, when she introduced him meals and subsequent yr’s calendar — which might change into their final second collectively.

Mi-Sook leaves behind her husband and teenage daughter.

“This is superb,” Jeon mentioned.

One girl mentioned her sister, who was going via a troublesome time, determined to go to Thailand when life began to enhance for her.

“She had so many difficulties and went on a visit as a result of her scenario was simply beginning to enhance,” she advised Yonhap information company.

The two flight attendants who survived the crash have been discovered within the tail of the airplane, probably the most intact a part of the wreckage.

One was a 33-year-old man, surnamed Lee, who was rushed to a hospital in Mokpo, about 25 km (15.5 miles) south of the airport, however was later transferred to Ewha Hospital Womans University Seoul within the capital, Yonhap. This was reported by the information company.

“When I awakened, I had already been saved,” he advised docs on the hospital, based on director Ju Woong, who spoke at a information convention.

The survivor, who suffered a number of fractures, is receiving particular care because of the danger of penalties, together with complete paralysis, Ju mentioned.

The different survivor, a 25-year-old flight attendant with the surname Koo, is being handled at Asan Medical Center in japanese Seoul, Yonhap added.

He suffered head and ankle accidents, however is reportedly in secure situation.

It just isn’t but identified precisely what precipitated the catastrophe, however a number of eyewitnesses declare to have seen that the airplane was in problem earlier than the crash.

Restaurant proprietor Im Young-Hak mentioned he initially thought it was an oil tanker accident.

“I went exterior and noticed thick, darkish smoke. Then I heard a loud explosion, not because of the accident itself. Then there have been extra explosions, a minimum of seven,” he advised Reuters.

“We really feel unhealthy when accidents occur on the opposite aspect of the world, however this occurred proper right here. It’s traumatic.”

Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who was close to the airport, advised native media that he noticed a spark on the best wing shortly earlier than the crash.

Kim Yong-cheol, 70, mentioned the airplane initially didn’t land and he turned again to attempt once more.

He added that he witnessed “black smoke rising into the sky” after listening to a “loud explosion”, Yonhap information company reported.

A firefighter despatched to the scene advised Reuters he had by no means seen one thing “of this scale”.

BBC journalists on the scene mentioned the sounds of relations crying echoed via the terminal on Sunday night, whereas others have been indignant on the time taken to establish the our bodies.

Hundreds stay at Muan International Airport ready for his or her family members to be recognized.

Some offered saliva DNA samples to officers to assist establish victims’ our bodies, and the federal government provided funeral providers and momentary housing to grieving households.

A interval of nationwide mourning has additionally been declared for the following seven days.

But for all of the family members of the deceased, many questions nonetheless stay, not least the reason for the accident and whether or not it may have been prevented.

“The water close to the airport just isn’t deep,” Jeon advised Reuters.

“(There) are softer fields than this concrete runway. Why could not the pilot land there as a substitute?”

His daughter Mi-Sook was nearly house, so he did not see the purpose in calling and leaving one final message, he says.

“He was nearly house, he thought he was going house.”

Additional reporting by BBC Thai’s Thanyaporn Buathong