Jeju Air Criticized for Lack of Support to Plane Crash Victims and Their Families

Public Outcry Following Jeju Air Crash

On December 29, a significant discussion emerged on the Korean forum “theqoo” concerning Jeju Air, the airline implicated in a devastating crash that has so far claimed the lives of 120 passengers. This conversation has sparked widespread attention and critique from the public.

The dialogue was ignited by a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), which highlighted Jeju Air’s controversial responses following the tragedy. Notably, the airline issued a public apology from its CEO but then promptly exited the scene without holding a press briefing or accommodating questions from the media or the public.

In stark contrast, emergency responders and public officials, who have been tirelessly working at the crash site, face the grief-stricken families of the victims without support or a clear directive from the airline involved. This has led to heightened frustration and anger among netizens.

Public Comparisons and Reactions

Many individuals online have voiced their disappointment, drawing parallels to the Itaewon Halloween crowd disaster. Like the previous incident, social media commentators feel that officials are failing to adequately address accountability, forcing firefighters and rescue workers to shoulder the aftermath alone.

Just like in Itaewon, the officials responsible seem to have gone into hiding, leaving firefighters to manage everything. What is happening?
Jeju Air’s conduct is utterly disgraceful.
A boycott of Jeju Air feels like the only answer.
This is infuriating. The crisis management by Jeju Air is appalling. It’s essential for the CEO to step up, apologize sincerely, and take full responsibility, but he seems to be scrambling while evading accountability.
Watching the updates from the crash site brought me to tears.

Details of the Incident

On the morning of December 29, at around 9:07 AM, a Jeju Air flight carrying 181 passengers from Bangkok tragically crashed while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The incident has left a significant number of casualties in its wake.

South Korean Plane Crashes and Catches Fire

According to reports, many of the victims were families and young children returning from a post-Christmas holiday in Thailand. This makes the incident even more heartbreaking and underscores the profound impact on the communities involved.

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