Some of the Asiana Airlines flight attendants hailed as heroes for helping passengers to safety after the crash-landing of Flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport a year ago have returned to work.

According to airline and industry sources on Tuesday, four of the 12 crew members onboard the flight, including the cabin manager Lee Yoon-hye, returned to work this month, stationed in the same posts they had prior to taking leave.

“They were allowed to choose from new posts, but all the returning members wanted to be back in their original jobs,” said a company spokesperson.

She added that eight others were still on paid leave for medical and psychological treatment. Some are undergoing training.

The return of the employees came more than one year after the crash on July 6, 2013. Thanks to their evacuation efforts, praised as a “textbook example,” 305 out of 307 passengers were rescued. Two Chinese girls died in the landing.

The airline said it was glad to have them back, but decided to remain low-key about their return out of consideration for public sentiment, and since the investigation into the accident only recently wrapped up.

“Among other things, crew members and their families are cautious about getting too much spotlight,” said the Asiana official, refusing to allow interviews with the flight attendants.

Last month, the National Transportation Safety Board ― the U.S. agency in charge of the crash investigation ― concluded that pilot error caused the crash as the crew over-relied on automated systems.

Following the probe report, Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is also gauging what level of punishment to impose on the flag carrier. Under local law, the ministry can suspend its operation of the Incheon-San Francisco route for up to 90 days. The duration is short, but would mean significant financial losses for Asiana, industry watchers said.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)