Grieving Pet Dog to be Rehomed After Losing Family in Tragic Flight Disaster

A loyal dog named Pudding is set to be rehomed after enduring an agonising wait for its family to return, unaware that they perished in a horrific air disaster. The tragedy struck when Jeju Air flight 2216, carrying 181 passengers from Thailand to South Korea, crashed on December 29, shortly after landing at Muan International Airport. The plane hit a barrier before bursting into flames, claiming the lives of all but two crew members.

Among the victims were nine family members, including a 79-year-old man, his wife, two daughters, a son-in-law, their young granddaughter, and three grandsons. Pudding, the family’s pet, was left behind, waiting patiently for their return, not understanding that it would never happen.

The dog had been living with the elderly man and his family in Yeonggwang county, South Jeolla province, where it was seen wandering the streets in the days following the tragedy. Villagers reported seeing Pudding lingering near the empty family home, seemingly hoping for the family to come back. “It appeared to be waiting for someone, looking for familiar faces,” said one local resident.

Two days after the crash, Pudding was found outside the village hall, sitting quietly. Upon their approach, the dog excitedly ran toward the rescuers, still hopeful of reuniting with its family. The animal rights group Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (Care) took the dog in and transferred it to a veterinary hospital in Seoul for care, as it had ingested harmful food like onions and chicken bones.

Care stated that it would look after Pudding while they seek a new guardian for the dog. In a message shared on Instagram, the organisation explained: “Given the circumstances and Pudding’s distress, we believe it is unsafe for the dog to continue wandering the village without a caretaker. After contacting the grieving family, we have decided to protect Pudding until a suitable home is found.”