Cabot Phillips

Yeah, two planes going down for very different reasons. We'll start in South Korea, where on Sunday morning, a flight from Bangkok appeared to hit a flock of birds while attempting to land at a large airport south of Seoul. That collision reportedly knocked out at least one of the plane's engines and set off a fire on the right wing, which authorities say may have also disabled the landing gear.

Yeah, two planes going down for very different reasons. We'll start in South Korea, where on Sunday morning, a flight from Bangkok appeared to hit a flock of birds while attempting to land at a large airport south of Seoul. That collision reportedly knocked out at least one of the plane's engines and set off a fire on the right wing, which authorities say may have also disabled the landing gear.

When the plane circled back around to attempt a crash landing, landing gear had not been deployed and the craft skidded off the runway, eventually colliding with a concrete barrier, setting off a massive explosion. The footage of the crash was just horrifying. At latest count, all but two of the 181 passengers on board had been confirmed killed.

When the plane circled back around to attempt a crash landing, landing gear had not been deployed and the craft skidded off the runway, eventually colliding with a concrete barrier, setting off a massive explosion. The footage of the crash was just horrifying. At latest count, all but two of the 181 passengers on board had been confirmed killed.

Right. So just days earlier, a separate commercial jet bound for Russia took off from Azerbaijan with 67 passengers. The plane began to descend into the Russian city of Grozny and experienced a number of malfunctions and rerouted hundreds of miles off course, eventually attempting an emergency landing in a small town in Kazakhstan.

Right. So just days earlier, a separate commercial jet bound for Russia took off from Azerbaijan with 67 passengers. The plane began to descend into the Russian city of Grozny and experienced a number of malfunctions and rerouted hundreds of miles off course, eventually attempting an emergency landing in a small town in Kazakhstan.

Video of that attempted landing shows the plane rapidly descending and then breaking apart as it hit the ground in a ball of flames. Miraculously, 29 of the 67 souls on board survived, though. Initially, Russian officials said the crash was likely an accident.

Video of that attempted landing shows the plane rapidly descending and then breaking apart as it hit the ground in a ball of flames. Miraculously, 29 of the 67 souls on board survived, though. Initially, Russian officials said the crash was likely an accident.

Some in Moscow said it could have been the result of a bird collision, while state news agencies initially reported the plane had been rerouted due to heavy fog. But soon, a new story emerged. First, photos of the wreckage showed what appeared to be large holes in the exterior of the plane.

Some in Moscow said it could have been the result of a bird collision, while state news agencies initially reported the plane had been rerouted due to heavy fog. But soon, a new story emerged. First, photos of the wreckage showed what appeared to be large holes in the exterior of the plane.

And then survivors began to describe how they heard loud bangs and pops during their initial descent, followed by screams from passengers and crew who had been struck by what appeared to be shrapnel. Within hours, officials in Azerbaijan concluded the crash was not an accident. and had been caused by a missile strike from Russian air defense systems. U.S.

And then survivors began to describe how they heard loud bangs and pops during their initial descent, followed by screams from passengers and crew who had been struck by what appeared to be shrapnel. Within hours, officials in Azerbaijan concluded the crash was not an accident. and had been caused by a missile strike from Russian air defense systems. U.S.

officials echoed those findings, agreeing that the plane was subject to, quote, external physical and technical interference. That news, for obvious reasons, sparked outrage across the world, prompting a rare apology from Vladimir Putin. Yeah, tell us about what he said. Well, unsurprisingly, the Russian president stopped short of taking responsibility for the disaster.

officials echoed those findings, agreeing that the plane was subject to, quote, external physical and technical interference. That news, for obvious reasons, sparked outrage across the world, prompting a rare apology from Vladimir Putin. Yeah, tell us about what he said. Well, unsurprisingly, the Russian president stopped short of taking responsibility for the disaster.

But for all intents and purposes, he did make clear that his military was to blame. And then hours later, the Kremlin released a statement of their own, again failing to admit culpability, but conceding that Russian air defense systems had been engaging Ukrainian drones in the surrounding area when this incident took place. So they're sort of implying that Ukraine is to blame for the tragedy.

But for all intents and purposes, he did make clear that his military was to blame. And then hours later, the Kremlin released a statement of their own, again failing to admit culpability, but conceding that Russian air defense systems had been engaging Ukrainian drones in the surrounding area when this incident took place. So they're sort of implying that Ukraine is to blame for the tragedy.

Yeah, on Friday, White House officials said they'll soon announce an additional $1.25 billion worth of military aid, including advanced surface-to-air missile systems. The package also includes plans to finalize a separate $20 billion in loans for Ukraine, backed by frozen Russian assets in U.S. control.

Yeah, on Friday, White House officials said they'll soon announce an additional $1.25 billion worth of military aid, including advanced surface-to-air missile systems. The package also includes plans to finalize a separate $20 billion in loans for Ukraine, backed by frozen Russian assets in U.S. control.

Now, remember, Trump has vowed to bring a swift diplomatic end to the conflict once he takes office on January 20th. And with that in mind, the Biden administration is now scrambling to get as much money out the door as possible in the next three weeks, presumably to strengthen Ukraine's standing ahead of those impending negotiations.

Now, remember, Trump has vowed to bring a swift diplomatic end to the conflict once he takes office on January 20th. And with that in mind, the Biden administration is now scrambling to get as much money out the door as possible in the next three weeks, presumably to strengthen Ukraine's standing ahead of those impending negotiations.