Reports indicate that the captain of the Jeju Air flight kept control of the aircraft until moments before the tragic crash.
On Sunday morning, Jeju Air flight 7C2216 departed Bangkok, Thailand, and attempted to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The plane went off the runway, collided with a structure at the airport’s edge, and exploded.
Following the incident, footage of the crash circulated online, highlighting the captain’s actions in the final moments. One social media user posted a zoomed-in image of the cockpit, writing: “The captain’s last moments. His hands were on the cockpit panel until the very end. I believe he did everything he could.”
The photo captures the captain reaching inside the cockpit, seemingly trying to access the overhead panel.
The post resonated deeply with many online users, prompting heartfelt reactions. Comments included: “That’s all I could focus on too. He seemed to be doing his best, bracing for impact,” “Even to an untrained eye, the landing looked remarkably stable,” “He must have used all his experience to do everything possible,” “It’s heartbreaking that the explosion came without warning,” and “There must have been a brief moment of relief when the plane touched down. It’s devastating.”
A pilot who reviewed the cockpit photo shared their thoughts: “The upper cockpit area typically houses hydraulic switches. While it’s hard to determine the actions taken from this image alone, the captain likely pulled the control stick to increase friction. Bracing for impact is instinctive, and it looks like he was doing everything he could. It’s a tragic situation either way.”
The captain of the ill-fated Jeju Air flight, identified as Han, was a seasoned veteran with over 6,800 flight hours. Colleagues highly regarded him for his exceptional flying skills.
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