YICHUN, Heilongjiang, Dec. 19 -- The captain of a passenger plane which crashed in northeast China four years ago was sentenced to three years in prison for misoperation.

The flight VD8387, which flied 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.

Captain 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, said the Yichun district people's court in the city of Yichun.

Qi also failed to properly evacuate the passengers and rescue the injured after the accident, as he left the plane without authorization, it added.

Qi has yet to decide whether he will appeal against the verdict.