A moment presumed to be the captain's last appearance during the Jeju Air passenger plane accident was captured. Internet users speculated that the captain tried to minimize damage until the last moment.
At approximately 9:03 a.m. on the 29th of last month, Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from Bangkok, Thailand, attempted to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province but overshot the runway, striking a structure at the end of the airport and exploding.
After the release of the video capturing the accident, internet user A focused on the last moments in the cockpit. In the photo uploaded on social media, the captain appears to be reaching toward the overhead panel inside the cockpit windshield. A wrote, "The last of the crash captain. Until the very last moment, their hands were on the cockpit panel... I believe you did your best."
A's post resonated with many internet users, attracting comments such as "Even though I don't know anything, the belly landing looked very stable. The captain must have used all their experience and done their best. It's heartbreaking that the explosion happened so quickly with no time to act," "It seems like they pulled the throttle to create maximum friction," and "I noticed that too. They appeared to have done their best and adopted a posture for impact preparation."
Han, 45, the captain of the Jeju Air disaster flight, was a veteran with over 6,800 hours of flight experience and had a background in the Air Force. Colleagues had often praised Han for good piloting skills. It is reported that colleagues remember Han as "a fellow uncompromising on safety" and "someone who would have done his best in critical situations."