South Korean officials are conducting an emergency safety investigation after 179 people died in the country's worst-ever plane crash on Sunday. Moments before the flight was due to land, air traffic control issued a bird strike warning - an alert about the risk of colliding with birds.

Experts are questioning the initial theory that a bird strike caused the deadly crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216 in South Korea, which killed 179 people.

The time between when the pilot reported a bird strike and when it crashed could be key to unraveling one of the world’s worst aviation disasters in years.

Officials are investigating the cause of the deadliest aircraft crash in South Korean history, which killed 179 people.

The deadly South Korean plane crash that claimed over 170 lives is under investigation for a reported bird strike affecting landing gear.

Jeju Air pilot declared mayday andreported a bird strike, officials say::Muan, South KoreaKang Jung-Hyun/Senior official/South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport“(The control tower advised the pilot) with the phrase “Caution bird activity.

The report quoting the Russian civil aviation authority said that the initial investigation showed that the pilot diverted to Kazakhstan’s Aktau after a bird strike on the aircraft led to “an emergency situation on board”.

Israeli forces detained more than 240 Palestinians including dozens of medical staff from a north Gaza hospital they raided on Friday, including its director, according to the Health Ministry in the enclave and Israel's military.

There were 418 reported bird strikes at the Salt Lake International Airport in 2024, with 14 causing damage to aircraft.

After a South Korean airplane carrying 181 passengers exploded in ball of flames after experiencing what appeared to be a mechanical failure as it attempted to land on Sunday morning, the pressure is on airports around the world — even in Salt Lake — to work harder to prevent them.