The family of a Thai woman killed in the South Korea plane crash were today battling to have her body repatriated.

Mother-of-two Jonglak Duangmanee, 49, was among 179 passengers and crew killed when the Boeing 737 exploded in a fireball at the Muan International Airport in South Jeolla province on December 29.

Her father, Boonchuay Duangmanee, 77, said she had been working in the country for six years and was returning there after a brief visit to her home in Udon Thani, Thailand, over Christmas.

Tragically, her last words to her father were 'I'm never coming home' because she was upset he had not been able to reach the airport on time to wave her off.

Speaking today, Jonglak said: 'My daughter married a Korean man and was living in the country. She worked in an electronics factory, a car parts factory, and worked in agriculture with her husband to. She would support us and her children. She had a 14-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.

'Before leaving, she asked me to have lunch with her, but I had to decline because my daughter-in-law needed our car to go to the hospital.

'When my daughter left for the airport, I rushed to see her off but did not arrive in time. She was upset and told me me she would not come home again. I just thought she was being dramatic.

'Every time she landed, she would call me to let me know she had arrived safely. I was waiting to hear from her.

‘When I saw the news, I was shocked and I was certain she had died when it mentioned that the victim was from Udon Thani.

‘I would like assistance from the government to help bring her body back home. I want to give her a funeral.

‘Jonglak, if you can hear me, I would like you to forgive me for not being able to send you off in time, making you angry.

‘Please be born into a better place, and do not worry about your children or me. If there is anything left, I will pass it on to them.'

Jonglak's niece, Boonsita Duangmanee, 18, added: 'I was really close to my aunty. I wanted to live in Korea, just like her. I'm so sad and I miss her already. I just had a feeling something bad would happen this time.'

Emergency crews battled the fire at the aircraft, operated by Jeju Air, while pulling at least two survivors from the cabin.

Flight records show the plane operated by Jeju Air had departed from Bangkok, Thailand, at 2.29 am local time before attempting to land at 8.59am in South Korea on Sunday morning, December 29, in the region also known as Jeonnam.

Lee Jeong-hyun, the chief of Muan Fire Department, said that a bird strike or the bad weather could be the cause of the crash but an investigation is ongoing.

Flight records show the plane had departed from Bangkok, Thailand, at 2.29 am local time before attempting to land at 8.59am in South Korea on Sunday morning, December 29, in the region also known as Jeonnam.

Lee Jeong-hyun, the chief of Muan Fire Department, said that a bird strike or the bad weather could be the cause of the crash but an investigation is ongoing.

The landing gear on the plane is also believe to have failed, causing it to skid along the runway while attempting to land.