UDON THANI, Jan 7 (TNA) – Yesterday, the ashes of a Thai woman who perished in a Jeju Air plane crash were returned to her grieving father.
At Udon Thani International Airport, 77-year-old Boonchai Duangmani, father of Ms. Jonglak who died in the Jeju Air plane crash that skidded off the runway and crashed into a fence at Muan Airport in South Korea, was waiting to receive his daughter’s ashes.
Udon Thani Deputy Governor Nattapong Wongkamphan was also present to receive the ashes. Park Yong-min, the South Korean Ambassador to Thailand, also attended to offer his condolences.
Jeju Air officials then presented a green-cloth-wrapped urn containing the ashes to Mr. Boonchai. Upon seeing his daughter’s ashes, the father’s eyes welled up with tears. Relatives wept as the atmosphere was filled with grief.
Jeju Air officials informed Mr. Boonchai that the ashes had been divided in half, with the other half to be given to the deceased’s Korean husband who will arrive later. The airline also provided a sum of money to help with the funeral expenses, while other insurance-related matters will be processed later.
The relatives then took the ashes back to their home for a funeral ceremony where a wreath from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was placed to express condolences to Ms. Jonglak’s family.
The South Korean Ambassador to Thailand expressed his deepest condolences on behalf of the South Korean government for the loss of two Thai lives in this incident.
In Korea, efforts will be made to improve safety measures to prevent such tragic incidents from happening again. -819 (TNA)
