The two survivors of South Korea’s deadliest plane crash are being treated in hospitals in Seoul as investigators begin extensive investigations into both the crash and the country’s wider aviation operations.
More specifically, the only ones who managed to be saved, a 33-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, were among the six members of the crew on board fο Boeing 737-800 her Jeju Air when it went out of control on the runway, crashed into a wall and burst into flames Sunday morning, officials said. There were a total of aboard the aircraft 181 people.
The surviving man, who suffered broken bones and is being cared for in an intensive care unit, was normally conscious and talking to medical staff on Monday, said Ju Wong, director of his hospital Ewha Womans University her Seoul.
The flight attendant, identified only by his last name, Lihad “already saved” when he regained consciousness, the hospital official said. “(Lee) is able to fully communicate”Wong added. “No signs of memory loss or anything like that yet.”
The woman, a 25-year-old flight attendant named “Mr.” is also recovering, although not in intensive care, hospital staff and officials from Korea’s Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport said. Neither survivor had life-threatening injuries, the ministry said, adding that both had woken up in hospital with no clear memory of what had happened after hearing an explosion during the landing.
Authorities were working Monday to confirm the identities of more of the 30 from them 179 people who were killed when the plane crashed. The bodies 141 of people had been identified through their fingerprints or DNA, but 38 of the dead remained unidentified, local officials said.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s transport ministry said it would conduct a full inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft in use in the country. Six low-cost airlines operate a total of 101 aircraft of this model, including 39 operated by Jeju Air, which has made it clear that it will not ground these aircraft.
“There are no plans to suspend operations, but they will look at these components once again and thoroughly check them during the inspection process,” stated the Song Kyung-hoonhead of Jeju Air’s administrative support department.
Source: www.diaforetiko.gr
