Jeju Island, South Korea, was rocked by its deadliest plane disaster in decades on Sunday, as a Jeju Air flight crashed at Muan International Airport, claiming the lives of 179 individuals. With only two survivors, the incident has gripped the nation and the world, sparking an investigation into potential factors such as bird strikes, weather conditions, and other issues that may have contributed to the tragic crash.

The ill-fated Jeju Air flight 7C 2216, a Boeing 737-800, met its demise shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday, following a bird strike warning issued by the air control tower. The plane had just returned from Thailand and crashed at Muan International Airport in South Korea. This marks the country’s deadliest plane disaster since 1997 when a Korean Air Lines Boeing 747 plane crashed in Guam, claiming 228 lives.

In the final moments leading to the crash, the control tower alerted the pilot of the potential bird strike, which is a common concern due to the proximity of duck and goose habitats near the airport. Despite this warning, the pilot declared a bird strike emergency just two minutes later, opting to abort the initial landing attempt and circle back around for another. Tragically, during the subsequent landing approach, the plane touched down without deploying its landing gear, skidding down the runway before colliding with a concrete wall and erupting into flames.

Authorities and investigators, including those from the National Transportation Safety Board in the U.S., are currently delving into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Recovery of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recordings is underway, although the decoding process may take significant time. The investigation is looking into the impact of bird strikes, weather conditions, potential system malfunctions, and the rushed nature of the landing sequence.

A central focus of the inquiry remains the role of bird strikes in the crash, with experts expressing skepticism about whether they alone could have caused such a catastrophic outcome. While bird strikes might disable engines, the failure to lower the landing gear raises questions about other contributing factors. The two survivors of the crash, both flight attendants sitting towards the rear of the aircraft, are currently recovering from their injuries, while the nation mourns the loss of 175 passengers and four crew members.

In response to the tragedy, airline stocks, including Jeju Air and Korean Air Lines, experienced significant declines, reflecting the somber impact of the crash on the aviation industry. The international community, including President Joe Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, expressed condolences and solidarity with South Korea during this challenging time.

As the investigation unfolds and the nation grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event, questions linger about the circumstances leading to the Jeju Air crash and the need for heightened safety measures in the aviation sector.