A Plane Carrying 132 People Crashes in China, with No Survivors

As per Chinese official media, a China Eastern passenger aeroplane carrying at least 132 people crashed throughout southern China on Monday.

The flight, MU 5735, departed Kunming Changshui airport in Yunnan province, southwest China, at 13:15 local time and was expected to arrive in Guangzhou, Guangdong province capital, at 15:07. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) claimed the disaster happened close to Wuzhou in Teng county.

There’s no immediate word on the number of those killed or injured. According to accounts, the plane was carrying 123 passengers plus nine staff members.

As per China Central Television, the Boeing 737 crash ignited a mountain fire in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China.

“The Boeing 737 aircraft of China Eastern Airlines crashed in Tengxian County in Wuzhou, causing a mountain fire,” the report said.

Rescue crews have been dispatched and are going to the crash scene.

Nasa satellite data revealed a big fire just wherein the plane fell at the time of the disaster.

“The aircraft belonged to the Yunnan subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines and has been operating for just over six and a half years. The aircraft was delivered in June of 2015,” a Global Times report said.

According to CAAC and the airline, the plane lost communication above Wuzhou.

As per FlightRadar24 data, the plane was cruising at 29,100 feet around 0620 GMT. The next available info revealed it had plummeted to 9,075 feet over 2 minutes and 15 seconds later. Its last tracked altitude was 3,225 feet after another 20 seconds.

China Eastern Airlines’ website was later rendered in black and white, as is customary in the aftermath of a tragedy, showing respect for the presumed fatalities. The website of Boeing China has likewise gone black and white.

The aircraft has 162 seats, with 12 in business class plus 150 in economy class.