VIRAL: Heartbreaking last words from passenger’s final text before South Korean plane crash

As 2024 draws to a close, the aviation industry has been through a series of tragic incidents that have brought serious questions about passenger safety. There have been multiple reasons for plane crashes including bird strikes to technical malfunctions, these crashes have brought to light the ongoing risks associated with air travel. In recent months, several accidents have resulted in significant casualties, which have been a stark reminder of the importance of strict, verified safety measures and continuous improvements in aviation technology.



In one of South Korea's worst domestic civil aviation disasters, Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800, crash-landed at Muan International Airport on December 29, 2024, claiming the lives of 179 people. The flight, which was arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, had 181 people on board, including 175 passengers and six crew members.



The crash occurred at around 9:03 am local time when the plane's front landing gear failed to open up, forcing the pilot to make a belly landing. Footage from the airport showed the aircraft skidding across the runway before colliding with a wall and bursting into flames. This left only two flight attendants alive, who were later treated for their injuries at local hospitals.

What has gone viral online is a heartbreaking text message from one passenger onboard the flight that he sent to a family member just moments before the crash. Local media in South Korea reported that a passenger claimed that a bird was "stuck in the wing," supposedly preventing the plane from landing. "Should I leave my last words," the passenger allegedly wrote.



According to various reports available online, eyewitnesses had seen the plane struggle to land, with smoke trailing from its engines. The pilot had declared a mayday after issuing a bird strike alert, indicating that a bird had collided with the aircraft. Initial investigations suggest that the bird strike may have caused the landing gear malfunction, and adverse weather conditions are also being considered as a contributing factor for the crash.

Joo Jong-wan, the Director of the Aviation Policy Division at South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, as per NBC News, that the pilot "declared mayday after issuing the bird strike alert." Additionally, it was reported that the pilot was cleared to land from the opposite direction.

One of the survivors, named Lee, recounted, "I woke up and was rescued," according to the director of Seoul National University Hospital, where Lee is being treated.