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Asiana Pilot Had Little 777 Flying Experience, Never Landed One at S.F. Airport Before, Airline Says

Lee Gang-guk was trying to get used to the 777 during Saturday's crash landing...the pilot had nearly 10,000 hours flying other planes but only 43 hours on the 777.

SEOUL, South Korea (TheBlaze/AP) -- The pilot in control of the Boeing 777 that crash landed Saturday had little experience flying that type of plane—only 43 hours—and had never landed one at San Francisco International Airport before, Asiana Airlines says.

Asiana spokeswoman Lee Hyomin said Monday that Lee Gang-guk was trying to get used to the 777 during Saturday's crash landing. She says the pilot had nearly 10,000 hours flying other planes but only 43 hours on the 777.

In this handout photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, the wreckage of Asiana Airlines flight 214 lies near the runway following yesterday's crash, on July 7, 2013 in San Francisco, California. The Boeing 777 passenger aircraft from Asiana Airlines coming from Seoul, South Korea crashed landed on the runway at San Francisco International Airport. Two people died and dozens were injured in the crash. (Credit: Getty Images)

Accident investigators are trying to determine whether pilot error, mechanical problems or something else was to blame for the crash of Flight 214.

In this handout photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators examine the wreckage of Asiana Airlines flight 214 following yesterday's crash, on July 7, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Credit: Getty Images)

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said earlier that the pilots were flying too slowly as they approached the airport and tried to abort the landing but crashed barely a second later.

In this handout photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, oxygen masks hang from the ceiling in the cabin interior of Asiana Airlines flight 214 following yesterday's crash, on July 7, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Credit: Getty Images)

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Dave Urbanski

Dave Urbanski

Sr. Editor, News

Dave Urbanski is a senior editor for Blaze News.
@DaveVUrbanski →