Udon Thani, Thailand, January 6, 2025 — The ashes of Ms. Jonglak Duangmani, a Thai woman who tragically lost her life in the Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea, were returned to her grieving father in a solemn ceremony at Udon Thani International Airport yesterday.
Boonchai Duangmani, 77, was overcome with emotion as he received the ashes of his daughter, who perished when the Jeju Air flight skidded off the runway and crashed into a fence at Muan Airport. The crash claimed two Thai lives.
Udon Thani Deputy Governor Nattapong Wongkamphan and South Korean Ambassador to Thailand, Park Yong-min, were present to offer their condolences. In a heart-wrenching moment, Jeju Air officials presented the urn, wrapped in green cloth, to Mr. Boonchai. Relatives wept, and the atmosphere was heavy with grief as family members expressed their sorrow.
The airline explained that Ms. Jonglak’s ashes had been divided in half, with one portion given to her Thai family and the other reserved for her Korean husband, who is expected to arrive later. Jeju Air also provided financial assistance for funeral arrangements and assured the family that insurance matters would be resolved soon.
Following the ceremony, the family brought the ashes home for a traditional funeral service. A wreath from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was placed as an expression of condolences to the family.
The South Korean Ambassador extended heartfelt sympathy on behalf of his government and pledged efforts to improve aviation safety to prevent similar tragedies.
This devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for rigorous safety measures in the aviation industry. Efforts are underway in South Korea to ensure such an accident does not occur again.
