Two Thai Nationals Among 179 Victims in Jeju Air Crash at Muan International Airport
On December 29, a Jeju Air aircraft tragically crashed and exploded at Muan International Airport, leaving 179 dead. Among the victims were two Thai nationals: Sasithorn “Mei” Jae-ue, 22, a senior aviation business student at Bangkok University, and Jonglak Duangmanee, 49, a Thai expatriate worker. The crash, which saw only two crew members survive, has left both Thai and Korean communities in mourning.
Dreams Cut Short
Sasithorn Jae-ue, affectionately known as Mei, hailed from Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai. She was a symbol of hope for her ethnic minority community, just three months away from graduating and pursuing her dream of becoming a flight attendant.
“She was our pride,” said her uncle, Thiraphat Jae-ue, 37. “Few from our community make it to university, but Mei’s dedication proved what was possible.”
Mei had traveled to South Korea to visit her mother, Suthinee, who had been living there for over a decade with a new family. Her final message, sent at 12:24 a.m. Thailand time on December 29, stated she was boarding her flight at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Suthinee, waiting anxiously at Muan International Airport, was devastated when she learned of the crash. Plans are underway to repatriate Mei’s body for funeral rites in Thailand.
A Father’s Regret
Jonglak Duangmanee, a 49-year-old Thai expatriate worker, had just returned to Thailand to spend the holidays with her family. Her father, Bunchuai Duangmanee, 77, tearfully recounted missing his last opportunity to see his daughter.
“She invited me to lunch two days before her flight, but I couldn’t go,” he said, overcome with emotion. “She was upset and said she wouldn’t come back – I never imagined those words would be true.”
Jonglak had also made a poignant request to her father, asking him to pay 10,000 baht toward her funeral insurance. “I never thought this money would be used so soon,” Bunchuai said. Her final message, sent to her niece at 11:50 p.m. on December 28, read simply: “Are you asleep? I’m heading back.”
Government Response
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the families of the victims on social media platform X. She directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide immediate assistance and coordinate with South Korean authorities to repatriate the bodies.
“I am deeply saddened by today’s Jeju Air tragic incident, in which two Thai nationals were among the deceased. My heartfelt condolences go out to all grieving families and those who have lost loved ones,” said PM Paetongtarn.
South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into the crash, which claimed predominantly South Korean lives. Meanwhile, the two Thai families are preparing to welcome their loved ones home for traditional Buddhist ceremonies.
This tragedy underscores the fragility of life and the profound impact such incidents have on families and communities, both in Thailand and abroad.
Combination photo of the two Thai victims of the fatal Jeju Air crash in South Korea on Dec. 29, 2024: Left, Jonglak Duangmanee, 49, from Udon Thani, and right, Sasithorn Jae-ue, a 22-year-old student from Chiang Rai.
