30th December 2024 – (Taipei) A fatal air disaster befell a Jeju Air flight from Thailand bound for South Jeolla Province, South Korea, claiming the lives of 179 individuals. Among those deeply affected by the catastrophe is Alisasa, a Taiwanese YouTuber known for her frequent travels between Thailand and South Korea, who, upon learning of the news, took to Instagram to express her relief at having narrowly avoided the ill-fated flight just days prior. Her message, “Flying to Korea and Thailand every day, I feel like I dodged a bullet. I flew this route just three days ago, it’s terrifying, RIP,” stirred a wave of reactions online.
The ill-fated aircraft, identified as Jeju Air flight 7C2216 operated with a Boeing 737-800, departed from Bangkok, Thailand, towards Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, carrying a total of 181 passengers, including 173 Korean nationals, 2 Thai nationals, and 6 crew members.
As details emerged surrounding the tragic event, suspicions arose that the aircraft may have been struck by birds as it descended onto the runway at Wuan Airport, causing the plane to veer off course, leading to a collision with a perimeter wall and subsequent explosion. Tragically, only 2 cabin crew members survived, while the remaining 179 individuals on board tragically lost their lives in the crash.
Following Alisasa’s Instagram post reflecting on her near miss, reactions from netizens were swift and critical, with comments ranging from accusations of insensitivity to claims of opportunist behaviour. The online discourse highlighted the delicate balance between personal reflections on near misses and the sensitivities surrounding tragic incidents that claim lives.