Qi Quanjun, former captain of the flight VD8387, stands trial at the People's Court of Yichun District of Yichun City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 19, 2014. Qi Quanjun, former captain of the flight VD8387, was sentenced to three years in prison for misoperation. The flight VD8387, which flew from Harbin to Yichun in Heilongjiang Province, crashed while attempting to land at the airport in Yichun on Aug. 24, 2010. The disaster killed 44 people, including the co-pilot, and injured 52 others. Qi Quanjun, on his maiden flight to Yichun, violated operational rules by attempting to land the plane when visibility at the airport was below safety standards, causing the deadly disaster. Qi also failed to properly evacuate the passengers and rescue the injured after the accident, as he left the plane without authorization. (Xinhua/Liang Shubin)
Qi has yet to decide whether he will appeal against the verdict. Editor: An