A screenshot from the Hankook Ilbo YouTube channel shows what appears to be the pilot reaching for the panel moments before the Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, Sunday. Captured from YouTube

A heart-wrenching video showing the final moments of the pilot during the Jeju Air crash has surfaced online, evoking both sorrow and admiration for the pilot's efforts in the face of what ultimately became a major aviation tragedy.

The footage captures what appears to be the pilot extending his hand toward the cockpit's overhead panel moments before the aircraft collided with a localizer structure, a critical navigation aid.

A post titled "The Pilot's Last Moments" circulated widely online, with the author saying, "Until the very last second, his hand reached out to the cockpit panel. I believe he did his utmost."

The accompanying video shows a shadowy figure, presumed to be the pilot, reaching for the panel. While the identity of the figure in the video remains unconfirmed, many online commenters expressed their belief that the pilot made a valiant attempt to minimize the disaster.

The video has struck an emotional chord with viewers. Comments flooded forums, with many sympathizing with the immense fear and desperation the pilot must have felt.

"He managed a difficult belly landing perfectly, only to face a sudden concrete wall. Imagining his thoughts in those final moments brings tears to my eyes," one user wrote. Another said, "Seeing the wall approach while the plane continued forward ... the fear and helplessness must have been unimaginable."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport noted in a briefing on Tuesday that if both engines fail, hydraulic systems can malfunction, potentially affecting the landing gear. "However, in complete system failure scenarios, there is a manual lever that can be used," a ministry official said.

Aviation experts suggested that the pilot likely resorted to manual controls during the crash. Jeong Yun-sik, a professor of aviation operations at Catholic Kwandong University, explained in an interview with CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" that such scenarios demand immense physical effort.

"If both engines fail and hydraulic systems are nonfunctional, the pilot must rely on cable-based manual controls. This requires significant strength, and it's possible both the captain and first officer were working together on the controls," he said.

A note left by a mourner at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province on Wednesday, the site of the Jeju Air crash, reads: "To the captain and first officer, thank you for not giving up and doing your best until the end. May you rest peacefully in a better place." The note is attached to the airport staircase. Korea Times photo by Lee Yoo-jin

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.