Me and Plane Crashes

Twice in my life, I have been to the sites of airplane crashes. 

The first incident was in 1987. My father, U Sein Lwin, Major Myint Lwin, and Ko Ngwe Soe went to the Dongwon Fishing vessel, which had arrived from Korea for fishing operations on a special People's Pearl and Fishery vessel towards Pearl Island. While we were in Myanmar waters, Korean Air Flight 858 crashed in the area. According to maritime protocols, we rushed to the surrounding area for rescue operations. When we arrived, we saw that the Dongwon ship had already recovered some aircraft parts floating on the water. That was about it for the first incident. (That was also the first time in my life I tasted Korean noodles and Kimchi.) 

The second incident occurred on July 2, 1999. A Fokker F-27 Friendship 600 from Myanmar Airways was descending into Sittwe Airport when its wingtip clipped a tree on the peak of East Pharyonkar Island. The plane spun out with momentum and crashed into the mountainside. Immediately after the incident, local authorities instructed us to send our fishing boats for rescue operations, and we dispatched about 80 crew members. 

We cleared mountain paths and prepared an emergency landing spot for helicopters with a specialized team. Medics arrived to examine and record the bodies, collecting gold jewelry from each individual along with their names, and documenting the causes of death (e.g., broken ribs, dislocations, etc.). Although it was a cargo plane, many people were on board. What I vividly remember is a Muslim flight attendant, Ma Khin Ohn Myint, who died curled up next to a food trolley. Later, I even worked with her father, a Chief Engineer, in a seafarer recruitment agency. 

Her image remains in my mind to this day. I also remember someone who had burned to death in their seat. The deceased were cremated on-site, and the urns were sent back to Yangon. These events remain memorable experiences in my life. 

Note: Ko Ngwe Soe ( General Nay Win Son's ) is a very calm speaker when not drinking and enjoys Chivas Regal whisky. 

Aung Myo Lwin (Agga)"

---

Suggested Hashtags: #AungMyoLwin #Agga #LifeExperiences #PlaneCrash #History #KoreanAir858 #FokkerF27 #RescueMission #MyanmarAirways #Memories #Sittwe #RakhineState #MaritimeRescue