T'way Air staffer praised for helping Korean in Da Nang car accident

Dong Thi Phoung, second from right, a staff member of T'way Air in Vietnam, poses after receiving a letter of appreciation from Korean Consul General Kang Boo-sung, second from left, at the consulate office in the Vietnamese city of Da Nang, in this photo released by the airline Friday. Courtesy of T'way Air

A staffer of T’way Air in the Vietnamese city of Da Nang received a letter of appreciation from Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recognition for helping a Korean national who had been injured in a car accident during a trip to the coastal city, the airline said Friday.

Dong Thi Phoung, an employee at T’way Air's Da Nang branch, discovered the Korean tourist involved in a car accident at around 1 a.m. in a parking lot at Da Nang International Airport on Aug. 29. Seeing that no one else was available to assist, she promptly called for an ambulance and provided initial support to the distressed tourist.

Upon the tourist's arrival at the hospital, Phoung played a crucial role as an interpreter, facilitating communication between the Vietnamese medical team and the Korean, who was traveling alone. Her assistance significantly contributed to the success of the medical treatment. Remarkably, Phoung declined any form of monetary reward from the grateful tourist.

News of her heroic actions spread throughout the Korean community in Da Nang, which led the Korean Consulate in Da Nang to present her with an letter with appreciation.

Kang Boo-sung, the consul general of Korea in Da Nang, expressed his gratitude for her voluntary efforts in assisting a Korean national, ultimately strengthening the friendly relations between Korea and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, T’way Air has disclosed its commitment to enhancing safety measures within the company by instituting regular fire drills in the cabin crew training curriculum and expanding safety education for all employees.

“We consider ourselves fortunate to have been able to help a Korean tourist in an emergency situation that occurred at the airport site by local staff at Da Nang branch,” said an official from T’way Air.

“We are unwavering in our dedication to bolstering safety awareness throughout the company, always prioritizing safety above all else.”