‘Mum I love you’: Last moments of passengers in South Korean deadly crash revealed

Demi Huang
7NEWS
New details are emerging on the horror plane crash in South Korea.

Jeju Air flight JC-2216 was supposed to carry passengers back from holiday celebrations, but it burst into flames while landing in South Korea, claiming the lives of 179 people.

In the heartbreaking minutes before the disaster, family and friends have shared the last text messages sent by passengers aboard.

‘Mum I love you’

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In a screenshot shared by a mother, her child’s nickname is “daughter”, along with a heart emoji.

It seems the daughter tried to reach her mum in her final moments, but the call went unanswered.

“Mum, I suddenly called you because there’s a bird stuck on the plane. You didn’t pick up so I’m leaving a message. Mum I love you.”

‘Should I leave my last words?’

In another screenshot shared by a 20-year-old man, his mother also mentioned the bird in her text.

“A bird got caught in the wing, so we can’t land,” she wrote.

When the son asked, “When did this happen?” she replied, “Just now. Should I leave my last words?”

There has been no reply since.

The KakaoTalk messages released by the families of the passengers on the Jeju Air flight JC-2216.
The KakaoTalk messages released by the families of the passengers on the Jeju Air flight JC-2216. Credit: Muan News 1

A reward trip after a long battle with cancer

According to Naver, a South Korean news platform, 22-year-old Kim revealed that his mother, who was in her 50s, had been battling cancer for years and was finally in better health.

She had gone on a trip to Thailand with friends, taking advantage of a “Christmas Bangkok travel package” from a travel agency.

“Do you need anything, son?” she wrote in a message, also asking her kids to take care of some parcels.

“Was it tangerines?” Kim asked, but he never received a reply.

Kim revealed his final exchange with his mother to Naver.
Kim revealed his final exchange with his mother to Naver. Credit: Naver

Kim and his 15-year-old sister said: “We couldn’t believe the sudden news of the accident.”

‘Son, come tomorrow’

According to Naver, a woman revealed that her son, along with her 4-year-old grandson and daughter-in-law, were aboard the plane.

She sent a message saying: “Son, come tomorrow. The plane that arrived from Bangkok today crashed in Muan. Please contact me.”

However, the message was never read.

Family members of the passengers on a plane which burst into flames, weep at the Muan International Airport in Muan, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024.
Family members of the passengers on a plane which burst into flames, weep at the Muan International Airport in Muan, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. Credit: Park Ki-woong/AP

As of 3pm Monday, 141 out of the 179 passengers who died in the Jeju Air plane crash have been identified, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Many of them were families with young children and teenagers, returning from celebrating Christmas holidays in Thailand.

Five of the deceased were children under the age of 10, with the youngest being a three-year-old boy.

It is the deadliest aviation disaster on South Korean soil.

Originally published on 7NEWS

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