While the cause of the accident has not been officially confirmed, early investigations suggested that damage from a bird strike was a significant factor.

Investigators found bird feathers and blood in both engines of the aircraft, supporting the theory of a bird strike.

The analysis of 17 samples revealed blood, further reinforcing the likelihood of a bird strike as the cause of the accident.

The flight belly-landed, overshot the runway, and crashed into a concrete wall, which contributed to the fire that ensued.

Approximately four minutes before the crash, the pilot reported a bird strike and declared an emergency, attempting to change the landing approach.

Complicating the investigation, the flight's black boxes stopped recording approximately four minutes before the crash.

The Jeju Air flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800, crashed on December 29, 2024, while traveling from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan county in South Korea.

This tragic incident resulted in 179 fatalities, making it the worst aviation disaster in South Korean history.

Only two crew members survived the crash, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Just two minutes prior to the Mayday call, air traffic control had warned of 'bird activity' in the area, indicating prior awareness of the potential hazard.

Bird strikes affecting both engines are rare in aviation, though there have been successful emergency landings in similar situations, such as the 2009 'Miracle on the Hudson'.

Experts, including former transport ministry investigator Sim Jai-dong, expressed surprise at the missing data, suggesting a rare complete power failure may have occurred.