THE possible bird strike, lack of landing gear deployment and concrete barrier all could have contributed to the aviation accident, which has been labelled as the deadliest in South Korea since 1997.

However, the cause of the crash OF Jeju Air flight 2216 has yet to be determined just days after the tragedy and it could be months before we know why flight 2216 crashed.

Sometimes, what the public believes caused a crash turns out to be far off base once an investigation concludes, according to CNN News.

179 of the 181 people on the flight were killed while two crew members were rescued from the wreckage.

US officials, including the National Transportation Safety Board, plane maker Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, are working with South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board to provide more information about the incident.

Despite the crash, the Boeing 737-800 has a very strong safety record, unlike its successor 737 Max model that has had numerous problems.

Boeing data from 1959 to 2023 shows the 737-800 recorded just 10 fatal accidents that damaged aircraft beyond repair, one of lowest rates in the industry when compared to the number of flights they've flown.

Additionally, South Korea's safety record has been exceptional, according to Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, a nonprofit that identifies global safety issues to improve aviation.

He said South Korean airlines all have safety management systems in place and have done well with respect to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audits that have been performed.

ICAO is the United Nations agency that helps 193 countries work together in air travel.

"This accident is very, very sad with the loss of life that we have seen," Mr Shahidi said.

"It's a complicated accident that involves many, many different factors that the investigators will be looking into to really understand the confluence of those factors that led to this disaster."

Prior to the emergency landing, the pilot reported an emergency declaration and go-around due to a bird strike, according to Kang Jung-hyun, a senior official at the South Korean Transport Ministry.

The control tower had warned the pilot of birds in the area before the reported strike.

The pilot declared "mayday, mayday, mayday" three times and used the terms "bird strike" and "go-around," the official said.

Globally, wildlife strikes with civilian and military aircraft combined have killed more than 491 people and destroyed over 350 aircraft from 1988 to 2023, according to a report from the FAA.

In the United States, wildlife strikes with civilian and military aircraft have killed 76 people and destroyed 126 aircraft from 1988 to 2023.