"What's Happened?"... The First Words of the Miraculously Surviving Crew Member of the Crashed Passenger Plane

Seemingly Forgetting the Accident Scene, "Why Am I Here?"
Conscious Despite Shoulder Fracture and Head Injury

"What happened?"

On the 29th, flight attendant Lee (33), who miraculously survived the passenger plane accident at Muan International Airport in Jeonnam, was transported to the hospital and this was the first thing she said.

According to Yonhap News on the same day, Lee, who was urgently transported to Korea Hospital in Mokpo, Jeonnam, responded to the doctor's question "Where does it hurt?" by asking back like this. She also reportedly asked, "Why am I here?" She is said to have stated, "I was wearing a seatbelt just before arrival, and it seemed the plane had fully landed, but I have no memory after that." Regarding this, a hospital official said, "She must have been in a state close to panic, but I think the first thing she said was out of concern for the safety of the plane and passengers."

On the morning of the 29th, a flight attendant rescued from a passenger plane accident at Muan International Airport in Jeollanam-do is being transported to a hospital in Mokpo by firefighters. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee, who was in charge of passenger service at the rear of the plane, suffered a fractured left shoulder and head injuries due to the accident. However, the hospital diagnosed that she was conscious, had a normal pulse, and was able to walk. At the request of her family, Lee was transferred to a hospital in the Seoul area on the same day.

Two flight attendants, including Lee, were rescued from the accident plane. The other rescued flight attendant, Gu, a woman in her 20s, is currently receiving treatment at Mokpo Central Hospital. The fire department reported that Gu said, "Smoke came from one of the plane's engines, followed by an explosion." Gu is also reported to be in stable condition without life-threatening injuries. Both Lee and Gu were located near the rear emergency exit. It appears that they were able to survive because the rear tail section detached during the plane's collision.

The fire authorities held an emergency briefing that day and stated, "Out of the 181 people on board the passenger plane, it is estimated that all except the two rescued individuals have died," and added, "We are making every effort to carry out recovery operations."