Jeju Air plane crash kills entire family of 9, leaving pet dog behind without caretakers

A village in South Jeolla is steeped in sorrow following the tragic crash of the Jeju Air passenger plane that claimed the lives of nine members of a single family.

Among the passengers was Mr. Bae, the eldest on the flight and a resident of Yongam Village. He was traveling with his wife, two daughters, and their families—nine people in total—on what was his first overseas trip to celebrate his 80th birthday.

This heartbreaking tragedy also leaves behind 'Pudding,' the family dog, who continues to wait for owners that will never return. Raised by the family’s five-year-old granddaughter, Pudding was found wandering near the family’s empty home. The dog tirelessly roamed the village, watching every passing car and peeking into the community center, as if searching for the family.

In the absence of its owners, Pudding waited endlessly at the house, refusing to leave. A local resident shared, "It’s heartbreaking. Just walking past their house or looking at it feels unbearable."

Despite villagers' efforts to care for Pudding by taking it into their homes, the dog would follow them briefly but always return to its own house.

In response, the animal protection organization 'CARE' stepped in and announced on December 31 that they had rescued Pudding. In a video shared on YouTube, CARE stated, "Believing that Pudding’s situation—wandering the village without its owners—was dangerous, the animal rights organization CARE decided to rescue the dog."

CARE further explained, "Pudding endlessly waited for the family, constantly looking at incoming cars in the village. Until a suitable guardian is found, CARE will ensure Pudding receives proper care."

Netizen comments include:

"Those who passed away include the grandfather, grandmother, eldest son-in-law, eldest daughter, eldest grandchild, second daughter, and her three children, making a total of nine. How could the second daughter's husband possibly stay sane after losing his wife, three kids, and even his in-laws and extended family?"

"What's heartbreaking about animals in situations like this is that you can't explain to them that their owner is no longer in this world and won't appear before them again. They can't understand words, so the message doesn't get through... If they had seen their owner pass away with their own eyes, they might have understood, even a little, but since that didn't happen, all they feel is endless waiting and longing. Thinking about how that dog might believe its owner abandoned it is also heartbreaking."

"Plane crashes are even more tragic because so many passengers are families traveling together."

Our heartfelt prayers go out to the victims and their grieving families.