Asiana Airlines Pilot Couldn't See Runway Seconds Before Crash

According to investigators

SAN FRANCISCO: The flight crew of the Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 which crash landed at San Francisco Airport couldn't see the runway just seconds earlier, given how far the plane was out of position, US investigators said Tuesday.

With attention focused on whether human error caused the aircraft to slam into the ground and miss the runway, it was also confirmed that the training pilot on board was undertaking his inaugural flight as an instructor.

The crash killed two Chinese students and left more than 180 injured, but given the heavy impact and extent of the damage experts have said it was fortunate that the death toll was not higher.

Three of Asiana Flight 214's four pilots have now been interviewed, said National Transportation Safety Board chair Deborah Hersman, who is leading the probe, and who gave an account of their attempts to avert disaster.