Wang Linjia’s parents learned of their daughters passing from school officials.
After the massive fireball and horrific scenes that occurred at San Francisco International Airport on July 7, two of the fatalities have been named. They are Wang Linjia and Ye Mengyuan, reports CNN.
Here’s what you need to know about her…
1. Her Body Was Found Near the Wreckage
Her body was found, along with Ye Mengyuan, near the wreckage. It would appear that she was thrown from the plane as it came in for its horrific landing. Both had been named as Chinese nationals by South Korean government officials, and later their names were identified by Asisana Airlines.
2. She Was Only 16 Years Old
Like Ye Mengyuan, Wang Linjia was a 16-year-old student at Jiangshan Middle School, located in the eastern part of the country. The AP reports that Linjia was from the affluent coastal city of Zhejiang. Jinangshan is known as a particularly competitive school.
3. Remarkably, 305 Others on the Plane Survived the Crash
Although the death of these two young Chinese students is nothing short from tragic, many experts are astounded that the other 305 people on board survived the fiery accident. While 182 of them were taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from spinal fractures to bruises, another 123 managed to escape unharmed. Some jumped out or slid down emergency chutes with luggage in hand.
4. She Was Traveling to California to Attend Summer Camp
As reported by the New York Times, the girls were among 30 high school students from the town of Jiangshan in Zhejiang province who were planning to attend a 15-day English language program at California universities. The school has been organizing similar summer trips for over a decade for students who typically pay about $5,000 to attend.
5. Wang Linjia and Ye Mengyuan Were Close Friends
Both of the two victims were close friends, reports Zhejiang Daily, a Chinese newspaper. Zang’s mother speculates that the two were probably sitting beside each other on the tragic trip.
A promising student, Wang was also class monitor.