Firefighters Also Suffer Trauma... "I've Never Seen Such a Horrific Scene in My Life"

Firefighters Managing the Situation Also Suffer Trauma
"This Is the Most Horrific Scene I've Ever Encountered"
"At the Time of Dispatch, the Damaged Bodies Were Entangled, Too Horrific to Look At"

A major disaster occurred when a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do, resulting in 179 deaths out of 181 passengers on board. It has been reported that rescue workers managing the situation are also suffering from trauma.

On the afternoon of the 29th, firefighters are conducting rescue operations at the site of an aircraft explosion accident at Muan International Airport in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Chosun Ilbo on the 30th, the accident site is so horrific that even the rescue workers recovering the bodies said, "This is the most dreadful scene we have ever encountered." One rescue worker told the media, "When we arrived, the damaged bodies were tangled together, making it unbearable to look at." Authorities have erected black tents around the site to shield the gruesome scenes, including bodies that are still recognizable.

At the time of the accident, charred airplane debris, broken passenger seats, and personal belongings such as bags and shoes left behind by passengers were scattered around the aircraft. Oxygen masks and life jackets were also hanging here and there on utility poles and barbed wire near the site. A firefighter explained, "Passenger belongings and airplane debris were found up to 200 meters away from the aircraft," adding, "The tangled debris made the recovery work difficult." Another rescue worker said, "The damaged aircraft and passengers' bodies were intertwined, so we had to cut through the wreckage piece by piece, which made the recovery challenging."

According to the National Fire Agency, at around 9:03 a.m. on the 29th, a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land on the runway at Muan International Airport. The landing gear (airplane wheels) failed to deploy, and the plane attempted a "belly landing," colliding with the outer wall and catching fire, engulfing most of the aircraft in flames. Except for the tail section, the aircraft was burned beyond recognition. There were 181 people on board, including 175 passengers and 6 crew members. All except two Korean crew members died. This accident became the deadliest aviation disaster in South Korea. On the same day, Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, announced, "From today until midnight on the 4th of next month, a seven-day national mourning period will be observed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.