Autobrake

The pilots also noted that they would need to roll to the end of the runway after landing, in order to exit via the last taxiway.

As such, there wasn't a need for heavy braking, so the captain selected Autobrake 2 for landing.

The Autobrake is a system which automatically applies braking to the wheels on touchdown.

It has five settings for landing – 1, 2, 3, 4 and Max.

The captain's selection of autobrake 2 underscored the crew's sense that this landing would be entirely routine, and that the weather was not a serious factor.

However, a few minutes later, the controller at Bangkok advised the crew that there was heavy rain at the airport.

Water on the runway would increase the aircraft's stopping distance, so the captain then changed the autobrake to setting 3.