Surviving Crew Member of Jeju Air Crash Has No Recall of Tragedy
In the aftermath of the devastating Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday, December 29, one of the survivors, a male crew member named Lee, awoke in a hospital with no memory of the harrowing incident. His first knowledge of the tragedy came when he regained consciousness and found himself in medical care.
Lee, a 33-year-old flight attendant, was one of the two survivors from the Boeing 737-8AS aircraft, registered as HL8088, which crashed while attempting to land after a flight from Bangkok, Thailand. The devastating accident claimed the lives of 179 passengers and crew members.
Dr. Ju Woong, director of the hospital where Lee is being treated, told Yonhap News on Monday, December 30, that Lee was unable to recall the accident and had no memory of the events leading up to it. Dr. Ju, a compassionate professional, chose not to delve into the details of the crash with Lee, giving the patient time to focus on recovery first.
"Physically, he is capable of communication," Dr. Ju reported, assuring the public that there were no obvious signs of memory loss or similar conditions as of yet. Lee is currently being cared for in the intensive care unit at Ewha Womans University Hospital in Seoul, where he has been diagnosed with multiple fractures.
Dr. Ju revealed that Lee is receiving specialized treatment to mitigate potential long-term effects, including total paralysis. Meanwhile, the other surviving crew member, 25-year-old Koo, is being treated at Asan Medical Center in eastern Seoul. Koo is reported to be in stable condition with injuries to her ankle and head, according to hospital staff.
The ill-fated aircraft was reportedly struggeling with engine failure due to a bird strike, exacerbating the situation when the wheels did not deploy during the landing attempt. Witnesses caught the horrifying scene on video, showing the plane spewing smoke from the engine before being engulfed in flames.
As the investigation into the cause of the crash continues, our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those lost in this tragic incident.
