By Nam Hyun-woo
Eleven Korean passengers who were on board Asiana Airlines Flight 214 returned home Monday, 36 hours after the aircraft crash-landed at San Francisco International Airport.
They were among 77 Koreans who were on board the ill-fated flight. They arrived at Incheon International Airport on a special Asiana flight.
Some of them had minor injuries and were met by ambulances and medical staff.
Several recounted the moment of the crash, saying their bodies ached, and they were still terrified by the deadly experience.
A traveler, surnamed Choi, said she was on her honeymoon, but the crash landing injured her both physically and mentally.
“After the landing announcement, it felt like the plane accelerated four or five seconds before touchdown and then came two huge jolts. The second was strong enough to rock my entire body,” she said.
“I think the plane caught fire between the first and the second impact. I saw fire erupt through one of the plane’s window,” Choi added.
Passengers who were scheduled to return home on the crashed jet also used the special flight.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, 38 Koreans were initially taken to 14 hospitals in San Francisco.
Asiana Airlines CEO Yoon Young-doo said in a press conference Monday that 30 people had been discharged, but details on the condition of the remaining eight were unavailable.
“Four cabin crew were also injured and two of them have been hospitalized, one reportedly in a serious condition. The pilots were not injured,” Yoon said.
As of Monday, 21 Chinese and eight Korean family members of Flight 214 passengers have applied to go to the United States.
Four Koreans and 12 Chinese among them and six Chinese officials departed for San Francisco late Monday from Incheon, following two Korean family members who went there Sunday, said Yoon.
They took the carrier’s plane originating from Shanghai, China, stopping over at Incheon, before heading to San Francisco, the same route as the aircraft that crashed.
Among the Chinese visitors, the bereaved families of two Chinese girls killed by the deadly crash were included.
According to the carrier, it had sent officials from its Chinese office to the bereaved families to help them get U.S. visas and passports.
Four more Korean families will depart for the U.S. and the airline will provide everything possible for the convenience of the victims’ families, said Yoon.
“We deeply feel a deep responsibility regarding the accident and are doing our best to support victims and their families. We will also do our utmost to deal with the aftermath immediately,” he said.