XI'AN - Chinese civil aviation authorities said on Wednesday that they have recommended Korean Air ban one of its crews   from flying to Xi'an for one year after the team failed to correctly follow directives from the airport's air traffic control tower.

The crew of Korean Air flight 9831 misunderstood the tower's directives and did not take the designated route when the plane was landing in Xi'an on August 19, according to the Northwest Regional Administration of Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The administration asked Korean Air to actively improve its crew's competence.

Korean Air said it took the matter very seriously and has worked out specific plans for improvement.