Part 2/8:
On that fateful Saturday afternoon, 291 passengers boarded the flight, with a significant number being on a summer camp trip. The journey started from Seoul, South Korea, a ten-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean destined for the shores of California. Asiana Airlines had an impressive safety record, and the Boeing 777—one of the most reliable aircraft—had never seen passenger fatalities in its 18 years of service.
Under the command of experienced Pilot Lee Jang Min, this flight seemed poised for a routine departure. He was joined by 45-year-old Captain Lee Kuk Kuk, a relatively new pilot transitioning to the Boeing 777 from the Airbus A320, who was still in training. Both pilots had the oversight of a relief captain and first officer, emphasizing safety protocols in long-haul flights.