^^^ If one is on final in a commercial jet that one is not used to flying and is ignoring the instruments, that is incompetence.

That the #2 chair was apparently unaware of what was happening (or unwilling to open his mouth) speaks volumes.

Best quote I've thus far heard: .

"He was simply too low," said J.F. Joseph, a retired Marine colonel who has been involved in hundreds of aircraft accident and incident investigations. "He ran out of airspeed, altitude and ideas at the same time. You're simply out of options."

PE is the saddest reason such things happen. Read Gladwell's book that discusses (in one chapter) the causes of airline crashes. He also discusses cultural influences (you mentioned those previously) and notes that Korean Air had a horrible record until that was addressed.