HARBIN - A court in the northeast province of Heilongjiang on Friday upheld the verdict of a lower court that had sentenced a pilot to three years in prison for misoperation in a 2010 plane crash that killed 44.

The Intermediate People's Court of Yichun found that Qi Quanjun, the captain of the ERJ-190 regional jet that crashed in Yichun on Aug 24, 2010, had violated aviation rules by attempting to land when visibility was below safety standards.

He was also found guilty of failing to fulfill his duty as the aircraft's pilot by ensuring all passengers were evacuated.

The crash resulted in the death of 44, including the co-pilot, and 52 others sustained injuries.

Qi's behavior had serious consequences, the court ruled. "The facts are clear, the evidence was solid and ample, the verdict accurate, the sentence appropriate, and the procedure legitimate," it said.

Qi was first tried by the Yichun District People's Court on Dec 19 last year. It was the first serious aviation accident case of its kind.

The defendant appealed, claiming that the conviction was made without a thorough probe or adequate evidence, and the penalty was too harsh.